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ced
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Apr 16, 2009 at 12:29
getting a second dog Vote for this post

Hi. I have a 6 yo Westie girl, Maggie(spayed). Tonight we are picking up her new brother. He is 5 and spent most of his life in a puppy mill. He has been in foster care since January(neutered and potty trained). Ceasar is a very sweet boy. They seemed to like each other when they met for the first time (lots of sniffing, no aggression). OF course, Ceasar is very timid acting (less so when around Maggie), and has had a hard life up to now. Does anyone have any advice on introducing him to his new home?


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Linda
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Apr 16, 2009 at 12:53
Re: getting a second dog Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Welcome to you and the dogs! Check the message board for about a week ago under the topic of jealousy & biting. I received a lot of good information from many of the club members. They are all wonderful.

Good luck with the dogs.

Linda & the boys in Ormond Beach

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Robin
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Apr 16, 2009 at 13:02
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Look for posts by Zoe and Tucker. Zoe's brother Tucker was recently adopted and is a puppy mill rescue. I am sure your rescue group will help teach you how to introduce your new guy and how to make the transition go smoothly for him and for Maggie. Good luck and congratulations!

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ced
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Apr 16, 2009 at 14:16
Re: getting a second dog Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Thank you for your quick responses. The thread on jealousy is very encouraging, with adjustments taking place daily. I searched for Zoe and Tucker but can't find topics old enough to be from when Tucker was newly adopted.
I'm assuming it would be best to keep their food in separate areas, at least at first.? Our kitchen doesn't have many places to put dishes....

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Dr. Roo & Mom
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Apr 16, 2009 at 14:24
Re: getting a second dog Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Many rescues are very timid at first especially those from puppy mills, so patience is in order. Also, when he comes home, try introducing them outside the house if possible, preferably in a fenced yard. I think they are less likely to get nervous if they are in an open air play area as opposed to inside a house (and you will probably be less nervous there, too!) You might start with their leashes on at first and then try them off-leash -- but again, make sure it's in a securely fenced area.

When I brought Roo home, it was late at night, after a long flight and we were both tired, but he met Reggie inside and they were both fine. They both drank out of the same water bowl very nicely about 20 minutes after being introduced.

I would have preferred a daytime, outdoor experience first, but that wasn't possible at 10 pm! So we were very lucky that they got along so well. They had a few scuffles and it usually revolved around food because they're both very food-motivated, but in no time at all they were best buds and rarely had a cross word between them.

Don't be surprised if the housetraining goes out the window at first -- it's a totally new environment for your little one and he will have a lot of adjusting to do and may get nervous or forget what he's supposed to do (and where) at first, but that shouldn't last long, especially if you gently correct him and take him right outside.

We wish you lots of luck and fun and love with your new addition!

Hope you'll check back and let us know how you're doing -- and then come on to the general topics forum and get to know everyone!

We're a great bunch, if I do say so myself -- and we have lots of fun!






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Zoe, Tucker & Mommy
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Apr 16, 2009 at 14:29
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Hi, Zoe & Tucker's Mommy here. Congratulations! What fun you are in for! We took Zoe with us to pick up Tucker so they met for the first time on neutral territory. Then, before we took them into the house, we took them straight to the backyard and let them run around and play for a few minutes. We never had any problems with them fighting. Tucker is a puppy mill rescue also, so very shy and scared. When I feed them, I put Zoe's bowl down first in the area she's always eaten in, then I put Tucker's bowl down on the other side of the kitchen. I stand between them to prevent any fights...none have ever occured. We always let Zoe be first in everything since she was the original dog in our home. She goes outside first, get treats first, gets petted first, etc. Of course, Miss Zoe is the boss and Tucker figured that out pretty quickly, and he just lets her be boss. But, we've never had any fights between them. They do occasionally get jealous of each other when we're paying too much attention to the other, but they will only bark or nudge us to get our attention, never any fighting. They've done extremely well adjusting to each other. I hope your Ceasar and Maggie do the same. Hope this helps! Good luck!
Patte

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ced
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Apr 16, 2009 at 15:09
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Thank you all for your help! I plan to join when Ceasar gets here, so I can post pics of both of my 4-legged children!
I'm sure I will be checking back in with more questions too!

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Tuffstuff
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Apr 16, 2009 at 15:12
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Congratulations from us also! We have four westies, one of which is a rescue from a puppy mill. She was six when we adopted her. She was extremely timid when we first had her and also not very well health wise. She's doing great now and runs and plays with the others. She did stay in the corner by the food and water all the time for the first few weeks. She slowly came around, so don't be too disappointed if this happens to you. Each dog reacts a little differently. We currently foster and bring in new dogs all the time. Just as the others have said, try to introduce them on neutral territory if possible. I also feed our first westie first and so on, feeding the new one last and putting the dish a little distance away from the others. I have to stay and monitor when they eat as some have allergies and can't have the same food as the others.

You'll have a great time with your two dogs. Enjoy the fun!

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Skye
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Apr 16, 2009 at 15:39
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Congrats on the new little one! We just brought our second home Monday - we've never had two in our adult life. We fed them upstairs/downstairs the first day but last night I fed them two arms' lengths away and they ate much more. I was in the middle.

Today was their first day alone, left in the upstairs by themselves. They did great I'm happy to report - we were very, very nervous but no problems, no bloodshed and no accidents.

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Iver & Sailor
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Apr 16, 2009 at 15:57
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Congrats on adding a new dog to your family. It is wise that you let Maggie and Caesar meet first a while ago. Now they will know each other.

I had Iver for 10 years as a single dog. I got Sailor 3 years ago to be a playmate for Iver.

There was no problems with them meeting for the first time or letting Sailor into the home.
Iver let Sailor know that Iver was the Alpha dog right off the bat. He did this by growling at Sailor whenever Sailor wanted to play with a toy. But after a few weeks of this, Iver was satisfied that Sailor knew his place and they began to play together a bit. Mostly chasing games.

Sailor was already one and a half years old when I got him.
Sailor wasn't a rescue dog, but he did come from the breeder where he lived with about 7 other Westies.

While Ceasar lived his life in a cage, pretty much isolated from other dogs, he still had other dogs around him.
I don't think you'll have any problems with Ceasar coming home with you tonight.
Have fun with him.
David, Iver and Sailor

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Angel Kisses Bailey Kanoa Jake
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Apr 16, 2009 at 21:19
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C E D, I have something I would like to send to you if you have email. My email is luvmywestie@sbcglobal.net so you won't have to share it here.

Jeanne

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terry odonnell
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Aug 26, 2010 at 23:44
(Indiana)
Post 1

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i got a 2nd westie, an owner surrender when mac was 10 mos old. campbell was 6 mos at the time. i was worried mac would be jealous but it is the other way around.  belle is the alpha in every way. absolutely adorable. they play rough but get along well. i am so glad i found her. mac was a puppy mill rescue, but i adopted him at 8 weeks. i volunteer with a rescue group so currently we have a 2 yr old cairn living with us. everyone is doing fine. winston seems to get scared of loud noises and he will go in a corner and growl, he comes out and is all kissy kissy. upsets mewhen  people just abandon their pets . hopefully he will have  a forever home this weekend.


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