Is my pug x developing a cocky attitude?!

[Cozzie]

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In March we adopted a rottie called Boss from a re-homing centre and he gets on wonderfully with our other dog Gizmo who is a pug x. :thumbsup:

They both also get on well with other dogs in general but what we have noticed when we are out walking is that Gizmo has started pulling towards other dogs and barking, which is something he never used to do prior to Boss arriving, nor does he do it when he's out walking alone with me. When Gizmo starts pulling and barking, it then starts Boss off and he jumps on the bandwagon which makes us look like we've got two problematic dogs! :>

It's like Gizmo has started giving it the 'big 'un' to other dogs in front of Boss and I was just trying to determine whether he's perhaps being protective of Boss or is there another potential reason? Gizmo is a daft dog and if you allow him to walk up the dogs he's pulling towards he then starts wagging his tail at them but I obviously don't like that he causes upset to Boss as well.

Has anyone else noticed a change in their original dog when they've introduced a new dog into the family?

I've attached a picture of the two of them together :flowers:

 

[hanneroon]

aaaw what a beautiful pair. Its difficult to work out why dogs do stuff eh? Little crazy beasts..

The fact you have isolated when it happens is a start..

Is boss maybe acting a bit nervously or excited in some subtle way that then triggers little gizmo? Maybe even the fact that you are holding two leads, means that when you see another dog, gizmo's lead is a bit more under tension that it would normally be. Making him think you are a bit nervous or excited about the other dog and setting him off?

Its impossible to really guess what the trigger is without seeing them, perhaps he is just showing off, now he knows he's got a rottie to back him up! Or is just being a bit more playful and excited now he's got a little doggy 'pack' ?

I'm sure someone else will have a better idea than me... While we wait for that, can we see more photos? I love rottie's (or any dog with orange blobs for eyebrows ) and boss is such a good name for one

 

[bertha]

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

 

[bertha]

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

 

[bertha]

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

 

[bertha]

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

 

[bertha]

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

 

[bertha]

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

 

[bertha]

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

 

[bertha]

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

 

[bertha]

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

 

[bertha]

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

What is Gizmo crossed with? He looks quite big.

 

[Cozzie]

Hi hannaroon, as Boss is a rescue dog we get the impression that he wasn't socialised much when he was little; he was raised with another rottie (a female who was later rehomed) so Boss doesn't have issues with dogs in general. He just gets a bit nervous around people sometimes when he's out walking, so we are working on getting him socialised more by walking him in built up areas where there are lots of people around and he's doing really well on that. My fiance and I usually walk them separately during the week and then will take them out together on weekends. We was advised by a dog psychologist to walk them separately so Boss builds up confidence on his own and doesn't always rely on the 'other' dog and looks to us as the alphas instead. I think he's had little guidance bless him :ermm: You may be right that Boss perhaps gives off the impression that he is nervous but it is Gizmo that tends to set Boss off; if Gizmo is fine then Boss is ok too. When we walked the dogs yesterday we took some sausages and when they spotted another dog we distracted them both with bits of sausages which seemed to work so I guess something like this may be the way forward.

They are both friendly with other dogs and I hate people to see them pull and bark as they think we have awful and aggressive dogs.

My mum dog walks for a family who have 4 dogs and she said she experiences the same 'pack mentality' thing too. She said if one dog goes, then they all follow.

Bertha, Gizmo is a pug x cocker spaniel.

 

[hanneroon]

aaaw bless 'em. It does sound a bit like little gizmo is protecting boss a bit, if he senses boss is a bit nervous then he will take charge and bark at the other dog. But who knows eh? Sounds like you are doing a super job of socialising him, so it will probably work itself out in the end.

Do try not to worry what other people think, i have a dog who barks HIS HEAD OFF, when he's on the lead, and i know this is, at least partially, because i am so worried about him offending people, and he senses my worries and goes for it. Catch 22, i'm sure he thinks he's doing the right thing as he's such a good boy the rest of the time.

Good luck with them both, they are so lovely

p.s. Ooh bertha look what you did!

 

[Cozzie]

I thought that too. Boss has improved in the time we've had him so like you said it may work its self out with persistence. When Gizmo approaches people no one takes him seriously as he's so friendly and daft looking but when Boss barks people instantly think 'ooh a rottie barking and being aggressive...what a surprise'. I want to see an example with Boss that they are a great breed.