What do I need to do at home to prepare for a second Sheltie?

[GordonDaSheltie]

Backstory; Gordon's breeder wants to rehome a 4yold ex show dog Zara because she can't give her the attention she needs to build confidence around people. She's shy around people especially men. She can be assertive with other dogs and is athletic and love lap cuddles.

....so the conversation with my partner was a lot shorter than I imagined! He said yes to Zara!!!

She's joining our pack in a couple of weeks so now I need to know what kind of practical things I need to do to prepare around the house for a smooth introduction to us, the cats and Gordon. Do you leave your dogs together when your not home, do i buy a second crate straight away or a lead spitter for walks? Toys for her? etc.....

 

[Calliesmom]

Congrats- how exciting
crate or baby gate to keep separation until the cats and dogs are used to each other.
I do crate mine when I leave the house- peace of mind that they haven't gotten into anything while I'm gone. I don't use a leash splitter- just hold the two leashes in one hand. My first "two dogs", one walked on my right and one on my left but all the shelties walk on the left - mostly
toys- they all share......

 

[Bailey's Mom]

Much depends on how you manage your home. Our previous 2 had trial periods with crate until they could be trusted alone when we were out. When they were trustworthy we retired the crate until t next one needed it.

Annie's breeder did an amazing job crate training her and she seems to be happier in the crate when we are gone. I'm not sure she is going to give up the crate so we may have to consider what we will do if we get another one about a crate.

Most stuff is basic. You'll need collar, leash, and food bowl if you don't have appropriate items on hand. Annie was significantly smaller than Bailey so we needed a new car harness although seat belt clip was fine.

You'll want to make sure you get sufficient food from the breeder to make a transition if you don't use same food. Both Annie's breeder and the 2 rescues we did always provided this but it was on my checklist.

It's a good idea to ask the breeder about any preferences the dog has for sleeping, toys, etc. You'll have your own ideas, but at 4 the dog has preferences that can help it settle in.

As for the split leash I agree with the above poster we have always used two separate leashes for better control.

Simply put think about what you use with your dog now. Our dogs have always shared some items like toys, water bowls, treats, etc. Other items as I mentioned above like collars, harnesses, and leashes will require each dog to have their own. Depending on temperament other items may or may not be shared. Those you can't determine until the dogs spend time together. We have a large dog bed that all the dogs have used in our living room at some point. That doesn't work with all dogs.

 

[Ann]

I second the crate suggestion. It will give your new arrival her own place to feel safe while she adjusts to her new environment, and give your resident pets a chance to get to know her from a safe distance. I always crate new dogs overnight and when I'm out. Depending on how she seems once she comes home, that may be all you need to do. Take your cue from her behavior and their reaction to her.

Other than that, make sure you have a supply of the same food she's being fed now to avoid digestive upsets at your house. If you want to change her food, do it gradually. Be prepared to give the new girl and existing pets lots of love so no one feels left out and then just enjoy!

 

[ghggp]

I agree with a second crate as well! It is essential to have a place they can call their own! I have always been blessed with shelties that loved the cats or ignored them! My cats are able to leave the room as it is gated off! The cats come and go as they please...

I used a leash splitter as I have had to walk four shelties at a time!

Shelties are so adaptable... all they want is to please you! Good luck!

 

[MissyGallant]

It looks like she is already accustomed to a crate, so I'd keep up with that. She needs girlie toys. Pink things. She also needs her own collar and leash. Cooper and the Belles share a water dish. But they have their own food dishes. And if Tara and Clara's food dishes wind up in the wrong crate, then the one in Tara's crate winds up in the very back corner to punish me for not treating the princess properly. (No, I am not kidding. Clara also sometimes puts an imposter dish in the back of her crate.) We walk with one leash per hand.

 

[SKNerissa]

One suggestion I got from a therapy dog trainer is to get something with the new dog's scent and place it in the crate/bed the new dog will use. Set this up 1-2 weeks before the new dog comes home and let your current dog sniff but not occupy the space. Apparently this not only helps the current dog to become familiar with the new dog's scent but also lets them know that something is going to change so they aren't taken by surprise.

Edit to add: Remember to give the current dog lots of upbeat bonding time to reassure them that they are still loved and just as important reguardless of whatever change is coming.

 

[GordonDaSheltie]

thanks for all the info, I went and saw the breeder yesterday and she said she was going to bring her crate, bed and food bowls with her for the trial. she also recommended casting her separately when we aren't home for a while before putting them together unattended.

 

[BarbV]

When Bacca was 10 months old, I tried to bring home a 3 year girl, Ginnie. Ginnie had been at the breeders for most of her life, and was mostly accustomed to her crate in her own private space. She was not well socialized to deal with a 10 month old puppy. After 1 week, the breeder and I decided it was not a good fit. And instead, we brought home, Indy, also 10 months old. A much better fit.

I would look into what socializataion, Zara has had. That is, coming from a breeder, you can assume she is crate trained. But how much time did she spend in her crate vs. playing with other dogs.

Girls often tend to be more independent, and harder to socialize as well. Espically an older dog. This is based on hearsay, because I've never had a girl....I've always gone for boys.

All to say, I would do a meet and greet with your current brood. And also ask how Zara has been raised and what experience she has with other dogs.

 

[GordonDaSheltie]

Hi BarbV

From what the Breeder has told me, her original Breeder is now living in a retirement home and raised her from birth for two years. Because of this she hasn't socialised much with humans in particular men and is fairly timid around strangers.

She has for the last two years been living at Gordon's breeders house, she sleeps indoors in her crate and plays all day with 7 other shelties between the ages of 1year and 10yrs. She is timid around people because again she only really socialises with the breeder her her husband. She does get out on day trips, I know she goes to the beach ever two weeks with two other shelties and two borzois. She also goes to sheltie club events but if there are too many people giving her attention ( kids especially because they can't keep their hands to themselves) she goes in her crate. Once she knows a person she can be a bit of a lap dog and will sleep on the breeders' husbands lap at night.

She can be a bit jealous when on a lap if another dog comes up for attention but not aggressive. She is also very athletic and comfortable around the other shelties. I know the breeder also takes her out for coffee dates and although she won't go near people she's content sitting by her feet and watching people walk past. They reckon that she will hj

I wasn't aware of this beforehand but because she's been living with and trained as a show dog ( I don't think she did many confirmations in the end) she's undesexed and can only heel plus stand still for grooming and inspecting but doesn't know most of the obedience commands, she will lie down for grooming which is already much better than Gordon! ( I always thought that show dogs would have the best obedience!) The breeder told me she's teaching her to sit at the moment before she comes over to us. She also said that after a while and once she is fully settled she would possibly enjoy going out to agility class. She might have to just watch with my partner to begin with before joining in on the classes.