New puppy aggressive???

zipee

So rescue foster pup only here a few days ...10 week female terrierish type .... might be medium sized.... already have an 18 mth gentle small cross mutt. Our first dog is so very gentle and doesn’t like puppy park..... she likes meeting dogs one on one.

Anyway pup arrived 2 days ago & is terrified of humans and we are working on it.... she wees if a human starts to pet her but she wants the contact.

So inside of a couple of days she is taking all dogs toys and guarding them & her bed. Feed them utterly in separate rooms so no issue there. She has also decided foot stool is hers too. Christmas trees hers too. Growling & guarding from my original dog... I have young children & worried this behaviour will be at them next....also my poor original dog is such a slob she won’t stand up for herself.

What do I do? How do I nip in bud? I get it’s pecking order but this pup is very dominant and body blocking other dog even from water bowl! And yes pup is half her size. They have been playing great together. Older dog on sofa & pup can almost get in sofa but not quite

Advice desperately needed!!

Thanks

Nody

Sorry but drop the idea of pecking order, dominant, alpha etc. because it's all incorrect information still being passed around as truth; what you got however is a dog with severe resource guarding most likely due to earlier mistreatment (see issue with being petted etc.). The good news is that it is something that can be treated with an appropriate training plan (and no that does not include physically hitting the dog on the nose etc. which you may see morons suggest) to make her relaxed. Best bet is to get an accredited dog behaviourist out to work with you and your pup in person to get what you need and work; if you post your general area the more knowledgeable users around here can give you recommendations to avoid the usual con men in the field.

em_cat

Its only been a couple of days, handle with care, patience and give it some time. The new pup is most likely petrified and very nervous, what kind of rescue was she in? Was she fostered by someone who has experience with rescues?

zipee

Nody wrote: »

Sorry but drop the idea of pecking order, dominant, alpha etc. because it's all incorrect information still being passed around as truth; what you got however is a dog with severe resource guarding most likely due to earlier mistreatment (see issue with being petted etc.). The good news is that it is something that can be treated with an appropriate training plan (and no that does not include physically hitting the dog on the nose etc. which you may see morons suggest) to make her relaxed. Best bet is to get an accredited dog behaviourist out to work with you and your pup in person to get what you need and work; if you post your general area the more knowledgeable users around here can give you recommendations to avoid the usual con men in the field.

That makes utter sense....she is wafer thin .... I mean bag of bones with a pot belly full of worms, fleas, tbh I cringe when I pet her back cos of all the bones 😢. Food I knew would be an issue and she wolfs til it’s gone for fear of losing it.... but water bowl and toys and foot stool I was shocked at how dramatic it is in a 10week old!! Shelter I got her from do dog training.... i’ll Phone them tomorrow and ask for training tips.... she’s also an amazing guard dog!!! I don’t think she’s ever been inside a house before.... she needs a chance!! If you cuddle her she thinks all her birthdays hace come 😳😢

Thanks so much! I was thinking it was me being too much of a softie....

Cheshire Cat

We had one of those, small terrier type. Frightened of her own shadow, starved etc. She was resource guarding like mad, snapping and growling. For the first few weeks her eyes were black because her pupils were so dilated.
It all settled once she was established and learned that all the good things didn't just disappear again. She also started to take queues from the first dog who is very laid back.
It took a good bit of time (about 6 months for the worst to be over) and patience, but eight years on, we are delighted that we stuck it out and happy to see that our love and training could make such a difference. She's a totally different dog now

ShaShaBear

Are you fostering this puppy from a rescue?
If so, I'd definitely contact them back. Trying to correct resource guarding at that level with another dog and small children to manage is very risky at best and not something the rescue should be leaving you to deal with. Pup would be better placed in an adult-only home where they are free to help him deal with his issues. Im sure in a rescue environment, they would have known right well that he guards!?

zipee

Phoned and didn’t get Fostering as not on for weekend so spoke to another staff member. Explained all.... she felt only here a day or so & persevere....felt she wld be fine in few days. When she realises stuff not being taken off her by siblings.....so we’ll see.... I have had dogs all my life and feel ok to cope right now.... keeping kids away. ....but will say in all our pups NEVER had this!!

I get she’s damaged and I want to help... if it escalates i’ll Remove her. I got “parenting tips” from rescue today and i’m Trying it....

Foster section back Monday and right now happy to keep going...

I agree with rescue WHY she is doing it.... never had a thing without losing it to siblings.... thinks everything will be ripped off her...

That said it’s not ideal for me, my kids & my dog.... but hopefully she comes round.... let’s see by Monday....

ShaShaBear

zipee wrote: »

Phoned and didn’t get Fostering as not on for weekend so spoke to another staff member. Explained all.... she felt only here a day or so & persevere....felt she wld be fine in few days. When she realises stuff not being taken off her by siblings.....so we’ll see.... I have had dogs all my life and feel ok to cope right now.... keeping kids away. ....but will say in all our pups NEVER had this!!

I get she’s damaged and I want to help... if it escalates i’ll Remove her. I got “parenting tips” from rescue today and i’m Trying it....

Foster section back Monday and right now happy to keep going...

I agree with rescue WHY she is doing it.... never had a thing without losing it to siblings.... thinks everything will be ripped off her...

That said it’s not ideal for me, my kids & my dog.... but hopefully she comes round.... let’s see by Monday....

Just speaking from personal experience here, but generally resource guarding does not just "go away" after a few days. If anything, it gets worse. My boy was a terrible wee bugger for it. Food only, not toys or areas. But when he realised no-one was taking stuff from him, he guarded it more because he thought the growls, snarls and lunges were finally working. He was 4 months old at the time. It took every spare minute of our time and all of our patience, plus keeping our two kids 10000% separated from him to get him to where he is now, and he will STILL growl if you try to touch his food when he eats it (he's 3.5 years now).

Of course fostering is fantastic and benefits all dogs and pups, damaged or not, but pairing a "damaged" dog with a home that has the resources to help is half the battle. Leaving a pup getting ultra-stressed trying to guard their "stuff" 24/7 from 4+ humans and another dog would be very counter-productive.

zipee

In my head i’ll Help her as much as I can over Christmas. I don’t blame rescue . they only got her in day before...

I am watching this space with her ... she is also peeing her bed constantly.... we are training her & my dog being fab...,and showing her....but we will see....she goes into her bed to pee..... again I have had pups from puppy farms in past but never experienced this!

sillysmiles

I'm confused, are you the foster parent or have you adopted a rescue pup that was in a foster home?