The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [64]
Paws de Deux
Q Laddie is a high-energy Border collie mix we adopted as a puppy about a year ago. We love him, but he wants to play with us constantly and he never seems to tire. If we ignore him, he grabs a toy and shoves it in front of our faces or drops it in our laps so we’ll toss it for him to retrieve. We take him to the local dog park a couple of times a week where he zooms around and seems to enjoy himself.
We’re thinking about getting a second dog in the hope of giving Laddie a playmate to romp with so that he doesn’t demand so much of our attention. We’ve visited a few local animal shelters, but we want to know what we should look for in a second dog and how to properly introduce a new dog to our home.
A Border collies are notoriously energetic and active, so it’s not surprising that Laddie is always on the go. You are right to provide him with suitable outlets like visits to a dog park, but once or twice a week won’t cut it, especially for a dog this young and spirited. He needs a lot of exercise, including brisk walks, at least twice a day, that last 20 minutes or more.
The fact that Laddie enjoys dog parks is a good sign that he likes canine company. Use your dog park outings to scope out what type of dogs he seems to enjoy the most. Look for the dog’s personality more than the breed. Laddie would probably do best with a dog equal to his playful manner and high energy level.
Once you have narrowed down a list of three or four potential candidates at your local shelter, you’re ready to test compatibility. Arrange a time at the shelter to bring Laddie to meet each dog one at a time. Many shelters provide meet-and-greet areas for just this purpose. Introductions need to be conducted on neutral turf, not at your home, to reduce the likelihood of Laddie eyeing the other dog as a territorial intruder.
Set yourself and Laddie up for success by bringing a dog-savvy friend or family member to assist you. You should each have a pocketful of tasty treats. Your goal is to make this an upbeat, positive event for both dogs. Take Laddie on his leash as your friend keeps the other dog on his leash. Speak in a happy voice and let the two dogs briefly do the “canine handshake” (sniffing each other’s butts). Dogs are more likely to become aggressive if they are face to face, so avoid a head-on confrontation. After 10 seconds or so, separate the two dogs. Give them each a treat.
If the dogs behave, you’re ready for the second step: taking them for a short walk. Position the dogs on the outside with you and your friend in the middle; don’t let them wander too far in front of you at first. Continue talking to them in a positive voice. Stop occasionally, ask them to sit, and give them treats. Then continue walking. Periodically let them approach each other for an updated sniff. If they seem relaxed, you can give them some more room on the leashes, but be careful of tangles if they start to play. After a successful walk, let them loose together in an enclosed space, if one is available. Dogs often act very differently when leashed — many are actually better at making friends off-leash, because it is less confining.
During this introduction, pay close attention to each dog’s posture. Good signs include play bowing, open mouths with relaxed facial muscles, and one acting submissive to the other (by lying down and exposing his belly for the other to sniff). Be wary if either dog bares his teeth, emits deep growls, stares directly, or assumes a stiff-legged stance. If this happens, see if you can diffuse the tension by calling the dog over to you, asking him to sit, and giving a treat. What you want is for the dog to abandon that aggressive posture and relax. If it works, you can let the dogs interact again, but a bit farther apart than the first time and for a briefer duration. If the dogs do not warm up to each other within