From: lgold@callahans.Cadence.COM (Lynn Gold)
Subject: Re: Getting a new dog
Organization: /mnt4/lgold/.organization
	<BrLq9y.JoC@acsu.buffalo.edu>
	<1992Jul20.151939.28287@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov>
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1992 09:16:38 GMT

In article <1992Jul20.151939.28287@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov> xxcrys@convx1.lerc.nasa.gov (Crystal Ratliff) writes:
>In article <BrLq9y.JoC@acsu.buffalo.edu> kkeating@acsu.buffalo.edu (Kelly Anne Hinkle) writes:
>>In article <1992Jul17.181534.19603@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov> xxcrys@convx1.lerc.nasa.gov (Crystal Ratliff) writes:
>>>      3)  I've been reading through books and the the FAQ for rec.pets.dogs,
>>>	  but I have yet to decide on what kind of dog I would like to get.
>>>	  I have a one bedroom apartment, so I would like to have a dog no
>>>	  bigger than 25 or 30 lbs (but, I don't want a 'toy' dog either).
>>>	  So I am pretty open on what type of dog I would get (even though
>>>	  I am leaning toward a Shetland Sheepdog).
>>

>Oh, I'm from Cleveland, Ohio!

>>>  Getting a dog is a huge responsibility (at least to my way of thinking)
>>
>>Yes, you're right, it is a big responsibility, but it seems like you've got
>>your head screwed on straight enough to be concerned.  Forgive my
>>being blunt, but Rambo will only come out on top if *you* allow it.
>>If you're in your parents' home, and they don't get along, then fine,
>>confine yours.  Otherwise, if they are visiting you, then you should
>>make it lear that your dog prevails on his turf.

>There is a slight problem with this, my parents will *not* confine Rambo. 
>You see, Rambo has them wrapped around his little paw. When I left home
>(I was the last one), Rambo was all that was left and they put all their
>time and energy into him (can we say empty nest syndrom?).  So now, they
>practically treat him as one of their kids (who they spoil rotten!).  Don't
>get me wrong, when I'm around Rambo I spoil him too, but with my parents
>they go overboard.  I guess what I am trying to say is, that if Rambo is
>upset it gets my parents upset.  Which doesn't bode well for family 
>get togethers. 

>Do you have any suggestions on how to get the two dogs to get along?       

This one sounds familiar.

Rambo sounds like my mother's late Yorkie.  Djinn-Djinn did NOT like
other dogs in general (unless they were female Yorkies :-) ), but was
MUCH better at getting along with dogs similar to his own size and
temperament.  He never liked my grandmother's beagle-ish dog (Dukie was
ALWAYS bigger than Djinn-Djinn, even as a puppy), but he got along well
with "Horny" Pierre and Susie, the miniature poodles from down the
street who used to wander onto our property.  (Pierre would hump
ANYTHING -- trees, poles, etc.  I believe he died trying to hump a car
tire...but I digress.)

I recommend getting alone with the two dogs in a situation where
you're away from Mom and Dad.  It can be as simple as taking them to a
place in your folks' house where your folks aren't around (the living
room, the back yard, whatever) and supervising interaction of the dogs.
If this isn't feasible, try taking the two together for a walk.  I
found that supervising Fuzzball and Monty (my parents' male Bichon --
larger, considerably more rambunctuous, and less well-behaved than
mine) helped alot.  The two dogs now play rather nicely most of the
time they're together, although Monty still doesn't take a hint too
well when Fuzzball makes it clear she's had enough "play time."

In my case, it seems to help when the dogs are near the same size.
Fuzzball also likes to play with the "girls down the hall" -- a pair of
miniature dachshunds, and absolutely ADORED a miniature poodle that was
VERY close to her size.

--Lynn
--
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