Dog Problem - Old Dog/New Dog - A long story

[palodia]

Dear Pet Doctor,

I have a dog problem and I seek your advice.

About one and half years ago I used to live in a gated community. There were many stray dogs within the community and everyone used to feed them regularly. One day, a female dog gave birth to a female puppy (Putti) right in my backyard. I felt a strange connection with Putti and I began taking care of her. I used to give her milk every morning and I used to play with her daily in the evening (she slept all through the morning on my porch). She was known as my unofficial pet in the community. I never brought her inside my house though. I also did not get her vaccinated or bath her or give her nutritional supplements due to my complete lack of knowledge regarding pets in general at that time. I also regularly fed the other dogs too but not quite as much as her.

When she was 6 months old, I had to move to another city (job-related move). I felt that she would be more happy with her pack than with me, since I never brought her inside the house and I would have to do so in the new city due to the lack of community housing. I also felt that she would not be able to adjust well in a household environment given that she used to freely roam all over the community (~25 acres) hunting peacocks and monkeys with her pack (her father and mother included).

About 8 months after I moved to the new city, I was made an offer to come back and I took it. By now she was 1 year and 2 months old. I could not return to the old community but I rented a house nearby (a 5 minute walk). I began visiting her regularly. I was starting to realize my mistake within the first week itself. She was no where near as healthy as when I had left (8 months ago). She was almost an adult dog by then. There were 4 more puppies born during that time and the feeding order had changed. She no longer had access to enough food and she was also at the bottom in the pack order. She was weak and scared.

I immediately began looking for a new house where I could bring her and adopt her as my pet. During one of my regular visits in the second week, I was shocked to find out she had given birth to a male puppy (Chutti). I immediately took Chutti home knowing fully well that he could not survive without my help. I adopted him and got him vaccinated. Three months passed by very fast and Chutti was now rather big. I now wanted to bring Putti also home.

I did so exactly 4 months after I brought Chutti (I had to get my fence heightened so that Putti would not jump and run away initially). My problem starts here! It has been 48 hours since I brought Putti home and Chutti is baying for her blood. Chutti lived with me for 4 months and he considers me his master and Putti also recognizes me (I was paying her daily visits during these 4 months) and considers me her master but both of them cannot stand each other for even a second (in close proximity). I was assuming that Chutti would recognize his mother and my goal of saving Putti and Chutti would be fulfilled and this story in general would end well but I had never expected what is happening now.

She is currently confined to the house and Chutti is staying outside (in the yard). Chutti is his usual happy self in the yard and only gets aggressive when he sees Putti. I bring her to the yard 5 times a day (at 3 hour intervals) for peeing and pooping (I tie Chutti to a tree so that he can see her but not attack her; he cries like a wolf the entire time she is outside; she does not care much). She has no problems as long as I am standing right next to her. There is a window near the door where they stand and bark at each other (with teeth gnawing) for up to 5 minutes and then go to sleep for a few hours.

Questions:
- Is it possible that Chutti (who is growing bigger by the day; he is currently a little smaller than Putti) would never recognize Putti as his mother (I believe Putti does recognize her son because she makes the high pitched noise that female dogs make to call their puppies)?
- Is it possible for me to somehow make them accept each other and live together happily?
- Is this situation causing unbearable stress on Putti? If yes, how can I help her?
- Chutti is also not eating properly. Is this due to the stress on him due to this other dog that he sees? How can I calm him down?
- What will happen if I let Chutti inside the house and let them deal with the issue themselves? Is this an acceptable course of action?
- Putti is constantly trying to jump over the fence (when I bring her to the yard), trying to run away. How can I make her stop doing this? Will she ever adjust to this new environment and accept it as her home? If yes, how long would it take (days/weeks/months)?
- Putti also has problems adjusting to her belt (she never wore one until now). Will she adjust to it soon?

I cannot and will not take Putti back just to ease my life and also make Chutti happy. That is not an option. I cannot live my life happily knowing that Putti may or may not have fed properly during any given day. I hope all of you can understand this.

I will be looking forward to your reply.

I have also contacted a local kennel club and hired a trainer to sort out this issue. He is due to visit tomorrow. I hope he does some magic and solves this problem.

Thanks.

Regards,
Palodia

[Administrator]

Hi Palodia,
welcome and thanks for your well written contribution to the Forum.
I hope that I can say a few words, and if anyone else can contribute also of course that would be great.

My initial thoughts are that you have done a great thing to try to help these 2 dogs, and really I wish you the best of luck with your endeavours.

It sounds like an even larger problem is not simply going to stop by 'socialising' your two dogs to love each other- what about all the other dogs still left within the compound? I hope there is some local charity or other which can work to neuter/desex these animals, as if the stray dog population keeps breeding there will always be too many dogs (and so some will always be skinny, and they will fight more for the available food) and there will always be problems with their heath and welfare.

However, first to your more immediate problem.


Questions:
- Is it possible that Chutti (who is growing bigger by the day; he is currently a little smaller than Putti) would never recognize Putti as his mother (I believe Putti does recognize her son because she makes the high pitched noise that female dogs make to call their puppies)?


I guess from what you have said that neither dog has been neutered? It sounds like he is showing signs of territorial behaviour, if both dogs but especially he was neutered it may help reduce this. An entire male dog is very dominant and if he thinks the yard is now 'his', he doesn't probably care who the other dog is, regardless of recognising it as his mum?

Questions:- Is it possible for me to somehow make them accept each other and live together happily?
- Putti is constantly trying to jump over the fence (when I bring her to the yard), trying to run away. How can I make her stop doing this? Will she ever adjust to this new environment and accept it as her home? If yes, how long would it take (days/weeks/months)?
- Putti also has problems adjusting to her belt (she never wore one until now). Will she adjust to it soon?



yes, its certainly a very stressful situation for both dogs. The mother has never been in 'captivity' she has always ran free, so its going to take weeks or months until she really relaxes.
I would advise for the moment a lot of (seperated) exercise for both of them, to tire them out and keep them occupied.
I would advise neutering both of them, neutered dogs are more calm pets.


- - What will happen if I let Chutti inside the house and let them deal with the issue themselves? Is this an acceptable course of action?

I suspect they would have a fight, as they are invading each others territory and the territory is very small compared to their previous roaming, so that heightens the tensions.

So essentially, they need to be gradually introduced to each other more and more in a supervised manner, over the coming weeks, and if they slowly spend more and more time together, then they should yes, finally be ok together.


- Is this situation causing unbearable stress on Putti? If yes, how can I help her?
- Chutti is also not eating properly. Is this due to the stress on him due to this other dog that he sees? How can I calm him down?

I don't know where you live so I don't know what diseases are common, but bear in mind stray dogs are often also suffering from parasites (worms, fleas) or other diseases such as tick fever or heartworm, and so as well as the stress-related problems, you should get a vet to check each of them over to be sure that they are in good physical health.

[palodia]

My initial thoughts are that you have done a great thing to try to help these 2 dogs, and really I wish you the best of luck with your endeavours.

Thanks. :)

It sounds like an even larger problem is not simply going to stop by 'socialising' your two dogs to love each other- what about all the other dogs still left within the compound? I hope there is some local charity or other which can work to neuter/desex these animals, as if the stray dog population keeps breeding there will always be too many dogs (and so some will always be skinny, and they will fight more for the available food) and there will always be problems with their heath and welfare.

Yes, indeed.

I guess from what you have said that neither dog has been neutered?

No. The doctor says that he is not old enough to be neutered yet. I asked him twice when he was 4 months and 5 months. He still does not lift his leg when peeing.

It sounds like he is showing signs of territorial behaviour, if both dogs but especially he was neutered it may help reduce this. An entire male dog is very dominant and if he thinks the yard is now 'his', he doesn't probably care who the other dog is, regardless of recognising it as his mum?

I feel this is very true.

yes, its certainly a very stressful situation for both dogs. The mother has never been in 'captivity' she has always ran free, so its going to take weeks or months until she really relaxes.

It has been 2 days and she has adjusted very well. She has picked a spot in the room upstairs and she sleeps there for almost the whole day. She seems very relaxed and calm in that room as it is empty and somewhat dark due to the tree outside. The temperature is also very pleasant.

I would advise for the moment a lot of (seperated) exercise for both of them, to tire them out and keep them occupied. I would advise neutering both of them, neutered dogs are more calm pets.

Yes. This is the top most priority of mine. The very last thing I want is for them to breed. Chutti is already inbred (his father and the mum's father is the same dog!). A litter from these two cannot be healthy.

So essentially, they need to be gradually introduced to each other more and more in a supervised manner, over the coming weeks, and if they slowly spend more and more time together, then they should yes, finally be ok together.

O.K. Thanks. :)

I don't know where you live so I don't know what diseases are common, but bear in mind stray dogs are often also suffering from parasites (worms, fleas) or other diseases such as tick fever or heartworm, and so as well as the stress-related problems, you should get a vet to check each of them over to be sure that they are in good physical health.

The vet has already checked Chutti when he vaccinated him (he has had 2 rounds of checkup and vaccination) and he is clean and healthy. He had some problem with his teeth formation (calcium deficiency) and it was corrected by daily dosage of Merical Pet calcium tablets. His teeth are big and white and very nice now. :)

The vet has also checked Putti (one round of vaccination and another booster round is scheduled for the first of next month) and she is clean and healthy too.

I am also using Nemocid as the deworming agent on Chutti every 15 days as per the vet's directions. I will do the same for Putti also.

[Administrator]

It has been 2 days and she has adjusted very well. She has picked a spot in the room upstairs and she sleeps there for almost the whole day. She seems very relaxed and calm in that room as it is empty and somewhat dark due to the tree outside. The temperature is also very pleasant.

great, this is fantastic :)
also im very glad to hear they have seen a vet....
..well, please keep us updated in the coming months as to how the situation continues.
I hope they gradually develop into the best of friends.
Often 'street' dogs cat turn into the most loving and friendly of pets and companions....

[palodia]

great, this is fantastic

Yes. :)

also im very glad to hear they have seen a vet....

Chutti had seen the vet many times before (once for the initial vaccination, once for the booster dose, twice for general check up). It was the first time for Putti but she did not even feel the needle when she was injected. :)

..well, please keep us updated in the coming months as to how the situation continues.
I hope they gradually develop into the best of friends.
Often 'street' dogs cat turn into the most loving and friendly of pets and companions....

Thanks. I will keep you posted.