Lucky successfully disintacted

Today (Monday) Lucky was uneventfully neutered, and is now spending the
night at the home of an older couple who have a spayed Lab, also rescued
from the streets. I have not met them, but my friend says they are very
nice people, and absolutely dog lovers. Lucky may very well charm her way
into their hearts, and if they would like to keep her, I would say that
Lucky will live up to her name.

I will also prepare to bring her into my house with Muttley, if required.
It will be difficult, with the remodeling project still on hold and so much
in disarray, but I am committed to providing for her well-being, and will
do what I can. Bonnie should be able to take her back for in-house boarding
if necessary, but I'd rather have her here if the two dogs can be trusted
to coexist peacefully.

Being a novice dog owner, and having had zero experience with multiple
dogs, this poses quite a challenge, and possible problems and dangers. I
will try to use the advice you have given to make this new adventure a good
thing. I don't know how much obedience training helps when it comes to
having two dogs learn to accept each other and their relative status in the
"pack". I'm sure Muttley will assume the Alpha role, as he had when he was
a feral steet dog, and as he still tries to do with me. Lucky seems to be
naturally a bit submissive, and I don't foresee her trying to be top dog.

I will probably need to be careful not to show too much preference toward
one or the other. Fortunately, neither one seems to crave attention, and
they might just be happy to sleep most of the time. I don't know if Lucky
will want to lay in my bed with Muttley while I am elsewhere, and I will
have to see if she is happy to sleep elsewhere when I go to bed, as Muttley
does, or if she will want to stay close to me at night. Two 70-75 lb dogs
in a single bed with me is too much. I'll just have to get a bigger bed,
but I was hoping to do that after the renovations.

It will all work out somehow. These dogs seem to react very well to
consistent love and care. If I maintain a positive and relaxed attitude, it
should help them feel secure and less prone to aggression or destructive
behavior. I have never felt anything but "good vibes" from both dogs since
I first met them, except when Muttley was in a stressful situation, and he
is now a different dog. Also, I have learned a lot about dogs since then,
and that has helped me interact well with Lucky.

Time will tell...

Paul, Muttley, and Lucky


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Lucky successfully disintacted
    ... For one thing, unlike the humans that Helene is used to dealing with, dogs cannot verbalize, so they can't tell you where it hurts or how much it hurts. ... Muttley tried to go in for the treats, and I tried to have him stay out, but she yelled "No!" ... And, why on earth weren't the dogs separated, so that Lucky be acclimated to the crate without interference from Muttley? ...
    (rec.pets.dogs.behavior)
  • Re: Lucky successfully disintacted
    ... Lucky will live up to her name. ... I will also prepare to bring her into my house with Muttley, ... dogs, this poses quite a challenge, and possible problems and dangers. ... have to see if she is happy to sleep elsewhere when I go to bed, ...
    (rec.pets.dogs.behavior)
  • Re: Lucky/Muttley Courtship
    ... That may be a tricky situation, as Muttley will have free run of the ... Lucky still needs training, although she seems much ... surgery (my vet said 10-14 days for my dogs), ... But the advice given by those who do seem to care is well taken. ...
    (rec.pets.dogs.behavior)
  • Re: Lucky successfully disintacted
    ... Yes, stupid. ... Allowing her off-leash in an enclosure with Muttley was stupid. ... Not crating and isolating Lucky from Muttley while she recovers ... dogs to interact would be in an open area, and the leashes seemed to make ...
    (rec.pets.dogs.behavior)
  • Last days for Lucky, or 2 dogs for Paul?
    ... and I got an appointment to bring Lucky in on Monday for them to ... My fear is that I have heard they will sometimes euthanize dogs that do not ... Muttley were not getting along very well. ... were both lying on the floor near each other when I went up to bed. ...
    (rec.pets.dogs.behavior)