Last Wednesday I brought home a new dog. Still groggy from surgery (neuter & teeth cleaning), I brought Jazz(3 yo, 4.6lb poodle) into the house in a crate where he remained for a couple of hours. I have a 14 1/2 yr old essentially blind Min Poodle who loves other dogs and has never been aggressive to any dog . He has been involved in Obedience, Agility and Rally.
Any way, At Dinner time I fed Elvis in the kitchen at his regular feeding station & Jazz in his crate.
When Jazz and Elvis first met face to face Jazz began a very serious growling and even stood on hind legs to be at eye level with Elvis for his attack. Elvis has been tail wagging and happy to meet a new dog. ( we have two neighbors whose toy poodles regularly visit). Jazz laid into Elvis with serious aggression which resulted in Elvis reacting in defense (the only other time I have seen Elvis get anything like this upset is if he is looking for a place to hide his rawhide bone and I try to get it.
Jazz also growls at my cats (1 is 17#!). the final shock came today as Jazz was on the couch with me,he was in the middle curled up in a fluffy wrap & I was sitting crosswise with my slippered feet off of the actual couch. I changed my position slightly, bringing my feet more onto the couch. Jazz jumped up immediately vicious loud, growling, and biting my slippers as if to kill them.
Obviously this little dog has been traumatized. He is 3 years old, so there must be very deeply rooted trauma.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I do tell him "no growling" and gently close his muzzle. Twice I have had Elvis on one side of me and Jazz on the other trying to desensitize Jazz. I am constantly reassuring both dogs when I do this.
I hate for my dear old Elvis to be traumatised and in fear of attack in his own house during his last months or years of life.
Sheri
