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so i thought here was as good as any!

As you all know my lennox is not liking other dogs particularly, but i can introduce him to other dogs 1 2 1 in a calm enviroment and he's usually ok. My mum's new rescue dog tessa doesnt like other dogs either now she's settled in.

anyhoo we were introdcing them in the normal way, lots of treats and walking them together etc, left it for the day on a goas it was going so well, neither of them barking, growling, both relaxed walking a leads distance away from each other just looking at each other with interest. we left it at that as i wanted to introduce them on neutral territory and i wasnt sure my mum would be able to handle introduction cause she didnt seem to have a lot of control and didnt seem very confident, so i was going to wait til my other half got here because i know he can handle lennox and i could have tessa.

so left it with treats and tails wagging for that day. one dog was asleep in the main room and one in the kitchen with 2 doors between them just in case, i had already talked my mum through what to do if her dog ever did get to another dog previously.

anyway, being an oap lol she left the doors open and came into speak to me ( not really lol i am quite annoyed it wasnt that hard a thing to remember ) tessa ran in and jumped on a sleeping lennox and a full on fight ensued. mum panic'd completely and stood there screaming and i seperated them, there was quite a lot of blood but no real damage if you know what i mean just puncture marks, apart from lenn has a slight rip on the bottam of his ear. he really did beat her up though, she is a lot smaller than him.

it has reinforced what i thought about introducing them without mum, since then when she hasnt been here ive had lenn in the run and taken tessa round and given her lots of treats when she's stopped growling etc, so now we're back to the no noise just looking at each other, but it has got me really really worried, what happens if i hadnt have been here? if it was a strange dog? she doesnt let her off lead but still, accidents can happen and honestly there is no way mum would have been able to deal with it on her own, i have gone for a walk with her showing her what i know and stuff i have learnt at oakwood but i didnt realise how forgetful she has got, or maybe its just cause she doesnt take me seriously i dont know. sorry for the vent but i dont want to hurt her feelings so i havent said that much about it.

on a plus note lennox has not shown one bit of agression towards her at all the whole time, not one bark or growl, she was growling at him from her run, he was 3 meters away and he yawned sat down and started licking himself, i am so proud and it shows the growl classes are really working! and he has ignored other dogs we've seen as well i am a proud mummy

my other half gets here tommorrow, but if we cant introduce them i was going to ask gill if i could bring them to center after 5th of jan?

sorry this post is so long but i really needed to get it off my chest

Hmmm, sounds like you've been having fun!!!!

Sorry I don't know you (I don't think) or lennox, but, the only prob I can see with you taking your mum's dog to Gill's, is that your mum still won't know what to do.
I would have thought that it would be best if your mum took her dog, so she learns from Gill how to handle a situation .... she may take her more seriously with her being a 'proper' dog trainer!!

My lab Molly has problems with other dogs when she's on the lead, (well, off the lead aswell, but she feels more in control off lead, so she's not quite so stressed) which I can handle, but my daughter (Lizz) says she doesn't think she could manage her if she had to take her out on a lead anywhere, even though she has a potentially stroppy staffie & a hyper rottie!!

Hope you get it sorted out.

Hi Jess,

Have to agree with Cheryl on this one. Given the current situation I would not be hopeful of a positive introduction in the short time you are still at your mum's. I think (although haven;t met Tessa) that this may need a little longer.

However given what you have put in your post I do think you are right to be concerned as when owning a dog with aggression problems the most critical thing is management every second of every day. One slip up could potentially be fatal for someone or something. I know this sounds extreme but given the injuries you describe one or both dogs meant business and should your mum not be in a situation to split them up you could not only have one or more injured dogs but a potential police visit, a dog control order (legally required to have dog on lead and muzzled in a public place), a vets bill for the other dog, (don't think I need to go on).

As you already know there are lots of things we can do, but it does need to be your mum that does them. I know you found a trainer local to your mum who does things positively. This might be the best way to go as your mum then has support near her. However I am here and available should you decide to bring them both to Hull.

I'm sorry if this isn't what you want to hear but you know me, honesty is the best policy.

You know where I am.

Gill

thanks i appreciate it i have to bring them both to hull, my mums going away backpacking to cambodia for over a month. lots of fun! she was supposed to be staying with one of mums friends but he's going a bit, well losing it a bit. mum has given me all her certificatesand has said i can put her in kennels if its too much, but i dont want to do that as thats the reason she's like this in the first place.

i havent pushed the introductions because im having them for this long together and i really dont want to ruin their future relationship for good or make it worse.

i've got her to write down her routine and what specific things it is, which to be fair i know some of already, prams/pushchairs, bikes and dogs/cats.

thats exactly what im worried about, that i know she needs to be watching every second of everyday and any slip ups ... i dont even want to think about it because she is such a gentle and loving little dog around the 2 legged variety.

mums starting her training when she gets back, she was wondering if i could have an assessment with you gill so i can start while im up in hull then when she comes back shes staying with me for a week so i can show her what we've done. also because she's staying with me, with 2 other dogs and although i would really like some advice lol!

Yes thats fine, although I am only going to be available on Tuesdays for the next month or so. Let me know when you want to do it. I don't have any space in your Growl class currently but we can sort something out with regards to working her with other dogs, even if I need to create a 2nd growl class on a Sunday.

Gill

I can sympathise there as Molly's original problem was with dogs, but she then added on prams, pushchairs, shopping trolleys, wheelchairs, bikes, anyone carrying a shopping bag, children - especially small ones at here eye level, people wearing hats etc!!

With alot of work, I can now manage the problem, but it means I have to be aware of everything going on that could be a potential problem, also it means I can only take her to the park very early (& try to be off by 9am-ish) & school holidays is a nightmare!!!

that would be ace thankyou, really appreciate it! im giving them a couple of days to settle down but theres lenn's growl class on monday so i can talk to yu abut it the properly its so aggravating because when we went to the rescue my mum said that it had to not be DA as me looking after her sometimes etc. but she so lovely its ok

update on how they are now though, they are both quite chilled, she is in the kitchen on a bed and lenn is in the living room, both attached with leads so thy cant get to each other obviously, shes chewing a bone and he's pretty much asleep, still looking at each other but its definitely a massive improvement! lots of treats being given often though at the good quiet behaviour too.

i now what you mean i think we're in the minority of dog owners that wke up and go 'yes! its raining! brilliant less dogs!'

just another quick update, today they were within a foot of each other without growling, both of them are nervous of each other though so they're both not wanting to go any closer which is fine i'm not pushing it, but they are both happy to sleep, eat, play etc in the same room. hey sniffed each others bums today as well always gotta be good i guess!