Just a question:

My girlfriend and I have moved in together. She has a pit (female) and I have a male golden (balls included). So far, we have been taking them on walks and keeping them separated. They have sniffed without growling but we are keeping them in different rooms because this is the first day.

So, does anyone know of how to easily get these two aquatinted?

i appreciate all suggestions!

12/25/2009 9:04:34 PM

Are you really asking this? You want us to suggest nametags? Zany icebreakers? Maybe cocktails and light hor d'oeuvres?

Put them in a room together. They'll fight, then fuck.

12/25/2009 9:19:09 PM

they will do the same thing that you and your g/f did the first time you 2 were alone together....the worse that will happen is the pit will kill the other dog.

[Edited on December 25, 2009 at 9:28 PM. Reason : w]

12/25/2009 9:28:15 PM

the obvious questions is whether or not the pit is spayed. If so then the male having balls wont be an issue.

Is this your place or your girls? If one of the dogs has lived in the space before then it may be territorial when a new dog enters. Your best bet is to introduce them in a completely new area...like a field or park or something. Then let them enter the house at the same time. Sounds like they are already in the house together so you might as well let them mingle....separating them wont do much at this point.

Generally a male and female dog get along better than a male/male or female/female so you already have an advantage.. Watch for toy and food aggression and notice who becomes more dominant (yes the pit could be the dominate one). You shouldnt have a problem unless one dog has displayed signs of being protective, anxious, or dominating.

12/25/2009 9:52:42 PM

Are you moving into a totally new place together, or did one of you move in with the other?

If it's a new apartment, then don't let one do any behavior to mark the new territory as theirs
(no marking, growling, chasing the other dog). I wouldn't show any favoritism to either dog-
feed at the same time if they're not food-aggressive, give treats and toys at the same time, etc.
You want to be the pack leader over either of them to minimize jealousy.

If one dog is moving into another's territory, it might be more complicated as you have an intact male.
Letting them play and hang out in a relatively neutral space, as well as giving the new dog their own space with a bed or whatnot, may lessen both dogs' anxiety about the changes. I would also try to reassure the "old" dog they're not getting replaced. Most dogs are fairly quick about figuring out new household rules and settle down accordingly.

As a side note, we introduced our new dog into our household by being fair about food, treats, etc. and gave the new Weim his own bed alongside the other dog in the bedroom. I feed them at the same time, but the old dog first else she gets into the Weim's food. Now I can't pry one off the other.

12/25/2009 9:57:00 PM

Why isn't your dog neutered? Do you breed him or something?

12/25/2009 10:54:25 PM

^ in his defense i've had several animals i didnt get spayed/neutered until i HAD to.

i mean...if you have a dog that lives inside and rarely gets out unless you are with him or her they probably won't get pregnant.

[Edited on December 25, 2009 at 11:07 PM. Reason : just sayin...]

12/25/2009 11:07:10 PM

Yes the pit is spayed and yes it is a new place for us both. We have put them in different rooms but they have started to growl through the door.

12/26/2009 12:23:56 AM

^^or get another dog pregnant (sorry i just realized i missed that )

[Edited on December 26, 2009 at 1:13 AM. Reason : DOH]

12/26/2009 1:04:13 AM

^It isn't all about puppymaking. Neutered/spayed dogs are healthier in general, and display fewer behavioral issues.

[Edited on December 26, 2009 at 2:00 AM. Reason : ]

12/26/2009 2:00:14 AM

^ eh im not sold on that argument yet after owning both neutered and uneutered dogs. But thats a discussion for a different thread.

You should go ahead and let them mingle. I think not being able to see each other is making them more anxious, hence the growling. Let them meet and see what happens. If they fight then put them both on leashes and restrain them until they relax.

12/26/2009 2:56:56 AM

ky jelly

12/26/2009 3:14:44 AM

^ I hate that shit, it causes my dick to burn.

12/26/2009 10:20:55 AM

get rid of the pit

12/26/2009 10:21:06 AM

let them have at it. they'll work it out

12/26/2009 10:26:26 AM

Quote :

"BanjoMan All American 2018 Posts user info edit post ^ I hate that shit, it causes my dick to burn. 12/26/2009 10:20:55 AM "

are you going to be fucking the dog?

12/26/2009 11:17:20 AM

theyll figure it out among themselves

12/26/2009 11:35:51 AM

Pits are dangerous dogs and should be destroyed.

12/26/2009 11:40:00 AM

I was referring to vaginal sex with humans. Sorry.

12/26/2009 1:22:18 PM

Quote :

"Pits are dangerous dogs and should be destroyed."

We picked up a stray pitt (~6 months when we found her) and she lived just fine with our other dogs. She was aggressive the first few months but it's not hard to handle.

When she got aggressive, we would punish her by putting her in her cage for 15 minutes or so or tying her up outside. When we weren't home she'd go in the cage as well. As her behavior improved, we increased her freedom around the house.

12/28/2009 4:26:21 PM

put em in the house together?

12/28/2009 4:26:42 PM

If you have pets do the responsible thing and sterilize them. Pyometra and testicular cancer are not found in sterile animals. It also cuts the risk of mammary and prostate cancer substantially. Plus they live a whole lot longer and are healthier in general. Shame on your veterinarians for not educating you appropriately.

[Edited on December 28, 2009 at 6:39 PM. Reason : p]

12/28/2009 6:32:28 PM

me and my GF have been living together since March, and our dogs still fight. that's just what dogs do.

they spend all day out in the yard together though, so i'm sure they just get on each others' nerves.

12/28/2009 6:33:54 PM

i think putting a door or wall as a barrier will make them more aggressive towards each other. You should just hang out with them both in the same room for a while, it shouldn't take long for them to figure out where each other's buttons are.
Just chill in the living room and watch a movie with your gf and the two dogs, but don't pay too much attention to the dogs and then see how it goes.

12/28/2009 6:49:02 PM

Quote :

"My girlfriend and I have moved in together. She has a pit (female) and I have a male golden (balls included). "

At least your girlfriend has a badass dog. My fiance has a french bulldog, makes me feel like a complete homo when she is not around and I have to walk her.

I think you should stop keeping the dogs separate, might as well as let them go ahead and fight it out

[Edited on December 29, 2009 at 3:15 PM. Reason : :]

12/29/2009 3:13:02 PM

Quote :

"If you have pets do the responsible thing and sterilize them. Pyometra and testicular cancer are not found in sterile animals. It also cuts the risk of mammary and prostate cancer substantially. Plus they live a whole lot longer and are healthier in general. Shame on your veterinarians for not educating you appropriately. "

Oddly enough, I was just reading an article a few days ago about how the push for sterilization ASAP is contributing to the increase in health problems that people are seeing in pure breds. Breeders are choosing which pups they're keeping and which they're giving out (and therefore sterilizing) before the pups have fully developed to see which provides the best breeding stock, and in general reduces the amount of genetic variation available. Now, don't get me wrong, I completely understand the problem of dog overpopulation, but it is also a shame to see so many wonderful dog breeds essentially getting destroyed by genetic problems due to limited breeding pairs. So I would amend your statement to say if you have pets and have no intention of breeding them you should sterilize them. But if you adopt a pure bred or have an intention of breeding, you should do so as soon as is physically healthy and then get them sterilized.

12/29/2009 9:00:55 PM

Quote :

"So I would amend your statement to say if you have pets and have no intention of breeding them you should sterilize them. But if you adopt a pure bred or have an intention of breeding, you should do so as soon as is physically healthy and then get them sterilized."

Call me crazy, but this seems like common sense.

12/29/2009 9:07:05 PM

Walk them and show them whose the pack leader.

12/29/2009 11:29:50 PM

12/29/2009 11:38:41 PM

We have been letting them off the leash in the house now and having them walk around. So far there have been no major problems. The main thing that we do is to take them on long walks together. They seem to walk together very well.

12/30/2009 3:28:23 PM

blood splatters on the wall after a they fought last night

1/1/2010 5:14:38 PM

don't be a pussy. Make sure you're the Alpha and that they stay in line. From there you're 90% good. I allow mine to establish a natural pecking order. The oldest female eats first, the other two piss off until she's done. And they get fed on my terms, not when they're pestering me.

1/1/2010 11:38:32 PM