Introducing Brinkley (my Goldendoodle) to a husky

[Heather & Brinkley]

Hey Everyone,

My parent's next door neighbors have friends that come and stay in their home everyone once and awhile.   We don't know them well at all.  In fact, it's an odd set-up.  The owner of the house lives in China and is hardly in the states; yet he has this house in my parent's very nice neighborhood.  People cycle through and stay in the house for a few weeks here and there.  There was one couple that stayed for a few months and they have a beautiful pure bred husky.  He seemed nice enough.  I'd pet him through the fence and he and Brinkley would often run up and down the side of the fence, wagging, barking (and peeing to make their mark.) My mom didn't like that the dog was left outside for longer than she agreed with in the hot Virginia sun, so she would bring him water, shade and a bone to chew on. Prior to the couple leaving the home and going back to their apartment, my mom made an off hand comment, "hey, if you ever can't take care of your dog, let me know." 

Well, she never thought she'd recieve a call from them but now they are unexpectedly moving back to China. They said dogs aren't treated well in China and they don't want to "ship" him so they want to know if we want him (I'm living with my parents until Dec 2013 when my husband graduates from PA school in MA.) 

So, now the dog is coming over tonight at 7pm to "meet Brinkley" and see how they like each other.  I'm a bit nervous because it seemed that any time we had a problem at a dog park, it was a husky that charged Brinkley.  I don't know what it was (maybe they thought he was stuffed animal!) I know that doesn't mean that all dogs of that breed will be the same but it was just odd that the problems came from huskies-- and that is why we no longer go to dog parks. 

Brinkley has many dogs over for playtime so he is used to dogs in his yard-- and he's not the one to start any issues BUT if a dog gets aggressive with him, he doesn't roll over and take it.  He'll fight back, so I have to be on my toes. 

I'm just trying to figure out the best way to introduce them.  Maybe we should take them on a walk first on neutral ground before letting them run in our yard??  If it works, it could be great because Brinkley loves to have friends over. But on the flip side, what if they fight over food when we are gone at work-- we don't crate Brinkley.  He's never needed it and he hates them.

Then IF and ONLY IF my parents do take the dog, I'm worried about the time when Brinkley and I move out in 1.5 years.  He will have built this bond with a dog only to leave him.  We do plan on getting a second Doodle at some point when this huge shcool transition is over.

My parents have already said  Brinkley is their first priority in this situation so they won't do anything that I am uncomfortable with but I'd love your thoughts.

 

 

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

If they used to run along the fence with one another id feel that they already know eachother. Well at least scent wise. We have 2 different neighbors with a husky each. One always barks and growls when we walk by. The other just sits there and watches us walk. I really think its a personality thing with that breed. My friend has a husky and a lab...the lab is the alpha dog.
With the food...I used to leave zoes food out all day if she disnt finish it and she ate when she felt like it. Since we got ben, they only get fed at meal times. Zoe learned that's when she eats. I mean she still takes her time and ben and I have to sit there watching her but she knows.
Great luck to you all today! I hope bailey and the husky love one another! =)

[F, Calla & Luca]

The walk on neutral ground sounds like  a good idea. And maybe, especially in the beginning you shouldn't leave food when you are gone. So do a trial run and see how it goes.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If Brinkley and the husky are anything like Jackdoodle, they will know that they know each other. Jackdoodle is not crazy about strange dogs, but he always knows the dogs he's met before, even if he hasn't seen them for a long time. I really think they will recognize each other. Also, one dog "visiting" another dog on that dog's home turf will usually not challenge the home dog, at least not right away, lol. For tonight, your parents' yard is Brinkley's home turf, so the husky will probably not give anyone any problems. Have Brinkley in the yard when the dog arrives and let them meet there before going inside.

 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I had Samoyeds growing up and they never met a dog they didn't like.  My MIL had a Siberian Husky who also never met a dog she didn't like.  Just so you know not all husky type dogs are aggressive.  I agree to neutral meeting - front yard? with a walk.  I wouldn't leave them alone together for a few weeks at least. I would pick up all toys too and gradually introduce them back into the environment. 

Even though you are worried about Brinkley, your parents need to be worried about the husky.  He is coming into a strange environment and needs patience and understanding.  I would watch the husky to make sure he is housebroken (if kept outside all the time, he may not be) or for leg lifting simply because he may not know better as to where he is supposed to go.  Our rescue had some leg lifting inside (I think now it was because he had been confined to a cement kennel and forgot that there were appropriate places and inappropriate places).  Realize that the husky is going to need some loving and understanding as he realizes that this is his new home and your parents are going to take care of him forever and not pass him on to someone else - this can take months and months or even a year.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nancy's post makes me wonder about something else...is the husky neutered?

[Heather & Brinkley]

Not neutered which I did not know. When I saw that I knew we may be in for it,

[Heather & Brinkley]

Thanks. I do know they aren't all aggressive. That's why I wrote "now I know that doesn't mean that all dogs will react the same." We grew up with huskies and Norwegian Elkhounds so I am very familiar with the breed-- my point was that the interaction with Brinkley never seemed to go well. Which is partially Brinkley's issue also. He tends to get very excited to play when he sees other dogs and is too rough too fast which scares other dogs. I've been working on this since he was a puppy and it's long and hard work.

But at this point my parents only concern should be Brinkley in my opinion. They didn't agree to take him yet. Their goal with this meetup was to make sure that they would be bringing a new dog in while keeping Brinkley safe. It is just as scary for a dog to have a new male enter his territory. This was a meet up to see how the two dogs liked each other--which they didn't--and to see if my mother bonded to the husky. I will write an update at the end of this thread. Thans for the advice.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

and up to date on shots?

[Heather & Brinkley]

Yeah, I would highly doubt it. The more we talked to these people, I don't think they know much about dogs. This is the perfect example of people that shouldn't own a dog. :(

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I always think it's a good idea to take them for a short walk together before turning them loose in the yard.  It gives them a chance to get used to each other without  territorial issues.  I would definitely not leave them unsupervised until you are sure that there are no concerns, especially not with food available.  Let us know how it goes.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Meet on neutral ground, off leashes.  If that is not possible, remove all toys, chewies, etc and have them meet in your parents yard.  I would not expect any problems as they do already "know" each other.  I would not leave food out with any two dogs in a home, IMO, it is just asking for problems.

Roo and Tigger met my son's three Siberians two or three times on neutral ground before a stay at one another's home.  Now they just waltz in and say hi. 

Most Siberians are very dog and people friendly.  But as with any breed, some individual dogs do not get along with other dogs.

As to the Chinese neighbors in your parents very nice neighborhood, in my neighborhood this is fairly common.   My neighborhood was a target for the Chinese who entered America in the ten years before Hong Kong became "a part" of communist China.  They came to our neighborhood because of the schools. The house is bought with cash ( to get it out of China) and a number of families get the benefit of living there as they get their start in America.  Usually they are "relatives".   The Chinese have very extended families, not necessarily what we would call blood relatives.  Many of my neighbors have a Siberian Husky and seem to be very good parents to them.  Many have told me that in China dogs are not thought of as family or companions, friends whatever, more like a goat or a sheep.

 

Good luck 

 

[Heather & Brinkley]

I found out more about this. He's staying in America. He is just going back to China for a long vacation. When my Mom asked why he couldn't just have somebody watch the husky while he's gone, he said that he decided to sign a lease where they don't allow big dogs. They don't speak English well so we only got bits and pieces of a story but it seems like they got in over their heads and now don't want the dog. :( this couple is just one of the many that cycle through so what you are saying makes total sense. I'm just sad forthw husky.