What to expect?

[Susan Ferree]

Things have gone very well so far with Kayla. There have been a very few grumbles and nipping. She is getting braver about coming into the house and to different rooms where we are. She even got on the bed with my sister yesterday. She will try to play when the other dogs are having their backyard 500. Zumi has even singled Kayla out to zoom with. I don't know when or how much she is eating other than the can 1/2 of food that I hand feed her in the evening. I checked with her previous owner who says Kayla is a picky eater. She had to put canned food in with her kibble. We have 5 other dogs and leave food out all the time. She has access to food and water anytime she likes.
All the others came into the family as puppies and the pecking order was maintained. I hope things will continue as well as they have so far with everyone getting along.
Any advice or suggestions on incorporating an adult into the family would be apreciated. I really want this to work.
Thanks

 

[BoundlessNewfs]

I guess I missed the background on Kayla. Is she a foster, or have you adopted her?

When we took in fosters, the first thing we did (after they'd met the other furry family members) was to start working with them on obedience and manners. Always being patient and loving, but firmly sticking to "house rules", so they would have no doubts as to what was allowed and what wasn't.

We generally kept the newcomer in a crate or a room separated from the other animals, when we couldn't be watching them closely. The newcomer inevitably will become comfortable, and then want to see how far up the pecking order they can move. It's important to really pay attention to your new one's body language, so that you can tell immediately when it's "different", and take steps to redirect them to avoid any "arguments" between them and one of your others.

When we brought Brenna into our mix, Lucy was our alpha. Brenna wanted to be. We never allowed them in the same room together, unless BOTH were leashed with one of us attached to each of them. It took several months of laying down "house rules" to both of them, before they came to some kind of understanding. Still, when I see a shift in body language or posturing, I tell them to "knock it off" in my best Mommy Means It voice, and that usually is all the redirect they need.

So, my best advice in bringing an adult into the mix is this: Get to know the dog's body language and watch it closely. Until you're sure of the dog's behavior (is it timid, shy, fearful, dominant, aggressive over food or toys, etc) then you're not going to know what situation may make it react. I would not be letting it just run loose with your others, until you're sure it isn't going to react to something and go after one of them. Make their time together completely supervised.

Start working with her on leash, seeing which (if any) commands she knows, and working on teaching her what she doesn't. Carry stinky cheese or some other special treat, that she only gets while "working". (Our Maggie will do absolutely anything for Vienna Sausages!) Use tons of praise and positive reinforcement when working with her. Do it in a place separate from the other dogs, so she knows your attention is only on her. This is a great way to bond with Kayla, and also reinforce with her what is expected.

Congrats, and good luck!

 

[luvxl k 9]

Sounds like you are doing the right things. As Lauren said though you need to learn her body language and how it is being used with your other fur babies, so you can ward off any problems before they escalate. Sounds like she is blossoming, good job!