Alright TWW, I've got a 4 year old AmStaff. She's a great dog, never any real problems... But recently the girlfriend and I moved in with my family. At the house, there is my mom's mini chihuaha and my girlfriends lhasa apso. My dog, girlfriends dog, and my mom's dog all get along. There has been the occasional snap at one of the smaller dogs but that only happens when Finley (my dog) doesn't feel well (exhausted, sick, etc..) and the smaller dogs are driving her crazy.

Right now, my girlfriend and I are still looking for a place to rent that we can take our dogs.

In the meantime, my sister is trying to get a puppy herself. She is having trouble because when a new dog comes into the house, Finley has a terrible time. She shows agression towards the dog that isn't usual.

Is this something to be overly worried about or is it more of a territorial issue? Finley has lived with Carter (lhasa) and Nala (mini-chihuhaha) for a good time without problems. When we go to Charleston, we take Finley to play with a bigger Boxer and they have a ball without problems.

Obviously, my girlfriend and I will be moving out soon and taking Carter and Finley with us, so my sister shouldn't have a problem getting a puppy at that point... but like I said, do I need to be worried about the aggression she has shown lately? She is a very loyal dog and very smart. My mom called today saying that the pet adoption folks brought over a puppy for my sister to check out and Finley didn't like it one bit and showed attitude. I kind of think it is because my girlfriend and I (who she has lived with for her whole life) and even Carter aren't there with her? Do dogs get worked up like that?

Sorry this is kinda long by the way.

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 3:27 PM. Reason : ]

12/5/2008 3:24:20 PM

just a quick guess....AmStaffs have horrible seperation anxiety and with you not being around, maybe that is putting her a little more "on edge" hence the rise in aggression...

posts pics of your dog

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 3:31 PM. Reason : pics]

12/5/2008 3:30:34 PM

you gotta be the pack leader, bra

12/5/2008 3:33:44 PM

My cats are Carter and Finley too Other than that, I have nothing to add to this thread.

12/5/2008 3:42:46 PM

is there a shorter version of the question

12/5/2008 3:49:06 PM

Carter and Finley

nice

12/5/2008 4:03:39 PM

Cant find any pics on my laptop but when I get back to the house PC, i'll check that.

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 6:13 PM. Reason : ]

12/5/2008 6:09:43 PM

Could be an age thing versus another dog thing. My bro and sister in law's dog dislike puppies only. She's not a very motherly dog, Alpha, no aggression towards other dogs though...just puppies. When mine was a wee pup, tirra basically tried to take her head off. Sabrina was in her mouth by the head, and tirra started to shake her. It was really scary!! Once brina got older (and a little bigger) tirra was fine and would play with her and now they're best pals. Since yours is ok with other dogs, it may be a puppy thing like tirra.

My family dog growing up was also not fond of puppies...she snubbed them and growled when we introduced her to one we wanted to adopt. This was an English springer spaniel. Tirra is a border collie / husky mix. Sabrina (lab shepard mix) is also the same with puppies. I really think it may be a female that has never had her own litter thing.

[Edited on December 6, 2008 at 4:11 PM. Reason : Non litter female]

[Edited on December 6, 2008 at 4:13 PM. Reason : Collie]

12/6/2008 4:08:04 PM

For some reason I remember being told that AmStaffs are awesome with people and very loyal, but a little leary of other dogs unless extremely well socialized with them. And minus the occasional exception seem to thrive best in a single dog household. Maybe she tolerates the other dogs because they are older (no puppies or adolescents) and were there first, or at least introduced to the household around the same time maybe? I don't know. But it doesn't seem to me that her disgust and aggressive behavior towards a new dog, especially a small, new puppy is that abnormal for an AmStaff. I would just be very careful and apprehensive with introductions if your sister insists on getting the new puppy before you guys leave.
Your dog may get along well with the boxer because it's larger and older...it could also just be really well-adjusted and can read your dogs behavior very well and knows how to not elicit overly aggressive actions from her. Maybe it's also because they tend to interact with each other on neutral territory whereas your dog may view your mom's house as 'hers' already...introductions outside on walks are always a good start with newcomers.

12/8/2008 1:28:33 PM