Getting new dogs tonight, advice needed please!

[digitalwanderer]

I'm going to be picking up a couple of black labs in about 4 hours and watching them for 30-90 days. They're a brother/sister who are 10 years old, both very active and hyper-friendly, and I've known and liked them since puppihood.

PROBLEM: I have a 12 year old collie/shepard mix at home named "Beanie" who is a 60lbs dog who's about 90lbs overweight and is insanely inactive, but also a hyper-friendly dog.

What's the best way to introduce them? I'm NOT good at this.

I'm not worried about the dogs & my kids, these dogs were raised around small children too and are very obedient. (Even for me! ) I'm also not worried about how my cats will react since they'll be able to evade 'em.

My biggest worry was my wife, but I just talked to her about it and she's cool too. (I love my wife, she's an animal person too. )

Any advice or tips will be welcome, I fear this will be traumatic somehow.

(BTW-This makes this the third board I've posted this on, so please forgive if you're a multi-boarder. I just want to get all me smart friends input before it hits me in the face. Elite Bastard's post and nVnews post for the curious. )

 

[jvd]

Before my boxer died when he was about 8 my uncle would bring his pug over. The pug was about 2 and very over weight. You know pugs .


They got along really well .

We put them in the yard. A fenced in yard.

They sniffed a bit. Then started chasing each other. They got a long really well for awhile .

I'm sure your dog will be fine. Dogs are very smart and will know not to push your dog if he can't do something. if they are good around children you should be fine. Just make sure they all have toys . If there are any problems seperate them for a bit and then try again .

 

[Basic]

Good advice.

 

[Dr. Ffreeze]

digitalwanderer,

I have 3 dogs, 1 yellow lab (Sara: female), 1 black lab (Missy: female), and 1 Alaskan malamute (Wolf: male). Last Sunday I dogsat for 2 chocolate lab puppies (1 each). My 2 females did great, but Wolf had some issues at first. I had to put him on a pinch collar and leash and walk him in the house for a short bit until they got use to each other. Then it was all ok and they had fun the rest of the night (The male puppy was not a chocolate lab, but instead a Horn Dog with constant humping he was doing).

If you are worried about your cats, some advice that I used when I also had two cats worked well. Put your cats in a carrier in the middle of the room and let the dogs sniff them. Once my dogs got used to them, they could really care less (unless they sprinted away once out and about, then they thought there were playing chase).

Hope this helps,
Dr. Ffreeze

 

[digitalwanderer]

I can't move.

It went better than expected, the puppies were happier than hell to see me and terrific for the transfer over. My puppy Beanie absolutely hates the new dogs, but I kind of expected that. Fortunately these new ones are friendly and much quicker than her, as well as figuring out that if you stay within 1 foot of me nothing bad happens.

I can't move.

I'm sitting at my computer with a black lab behind me on the left and right 'tween me and my wife on her 'puter behind me, with Beanie guarding the exit to the computer room about 2 feet over on my left. All the dogs are finally settled and sleeping.

And I can't move, or else they'll all wake up at once and all freaking hell might break loose.

I think if I put in a coffee maker & a fridge on my desk that this may just work out....I just saw the cats finally poke their heads up from the basement too! (They've been in hiding since the puppies came by yesterday.)

It's gonna be a looooooooong day for me.

 

[StefanS]

I can't move.

It went better than expected, the puppies were happier than hell to see me and terrific for the transfer over. My puppy Beanie absolutely hates the new dogs, but I kind of expected that. Fortunately these new ones are friendly and much quicker than her, as well as figuring out that if you stay within 1 foot of me nothing bad happens.

I can't move.

I'm sitting at my computer with a black lab behind me on the left and right 'tween me and my wife on her 'puter behind me, with Beanie guarding the exit to the computer room about 2 feet over on my left. All the dogs are finally settled and sleeping.

And I can't move, or else they'll all wake up at once and all freaking hell might break loose.

I think if I put in a coffee maker & a fridge on my desk that this may just work out....I just saw the cats finally poke their heads up from the basement too! (They've been in hiding since the puppies came by yesterday.)

It's gonna be a looooooooong day for me.

Sounds like you're leading a dog's life at the moment. Good luck to you!

 

[MuFu]

My biggest worry was my wife...

Well mate, maybe you should keep her kenneled outside for a couple of days.

MuFu.

 

[John Reynolds]

My biggest worry was my wife...

Well mate, maybe you should keep her kenneled outside for a couple of days.

MuFu.

LOL Spoken like your typical young, single guy. You have much to learn, my padawan. 8)

 

[MuFu]

Like how I'll eventually grow out of crappy Star Wars references, right?

MuFu.

 

[John Reynolds]

Like how I'll eventually grow out of crappy Star Wars references, right?

MuFu.

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

 

[MuFu]

Tee hee.

MuFu.

 

[digitalwanderer]

My biggest worry was my wife...

Well mate, maybe you should keep her kenneled outside for a couple of days.

MuFu.

Uhm, in case you ain't quite grasped it yet I ain't exactly the one in the relationship who would be deciding who is gonna be kenneled outside. (I have no silly delusions about who is in charge in my relationship. )

 

[John Reynolds]

Uhm, in case you ain't quite grasped it yet I ain't exactly the one in the relationship who would be deciding who is gonna be kenneled outside. (I have no silly delusions about who is in charge in my relationship. )

Dude, don't ever admit that shit. It may be true, but don't publically state it because that's the sort of thing that gets repeated, and if my wife hears it I'm fooked.

 

[digitalwanderer]

Sorry John! Uhm, I meant to say that my woman does as I tell her and if I tell her it's cool then it's cool.

I just posted a couple of pictures of them from this morning here at EB.

 

[Legion]

get a newfoundland. Great dogs. Trust worthy and loving.