Dog introduction - need advice - Updated

[BG and Gavin]

 

Update - Gavin and the Queen finally met.

 

 

Next weekend Gavin will meet his cottage next door neighbour.  She is a sweet 8 year old Bichon.  Her elderly dad is always afraid that something will happen to her.  He is particularly mistrustful of large dogs (and Gavin is big young lad!)  I have seen his girl with other dogs and there is no mistake that she is the Queen.  Despite her sweet disposition she is alpha.  Gavin on the other hand is very playful and confident, but very submissive. 

 

I see it going something like this...Gavin will run up to her like gangbusters, do a puppy bow, she will growl at him, he will back away but bat her on top of the head with his giant paw, her owner will be nervous, she will snap and Gavin will back off and then try again. 

 

Any tips for introducing them?  On leash?  Off? In our cottage? In our yard of hers?  Neutral ground?  How long do you suppose it will take for the Bichon to teach Gavin that she does not want to play so he needs not try.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I think neutral ground would be the best. I think off leash might be better too... although I'm not sure. A lot of dogs can be more defensive/nervous when they meet unknown dogs on-leash.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Off leash for sure!!! Taquito is terrible with other dogs on leash, but off, he is okay. Do it on neutral ground and just let them meet each other. She will probably growl and scare Gavin, but that is a good thing. You and Bishon's owner need to both be present, but standing further away. Sometimes I think Taquito likes to protect me when I am close (what could he do? you tell me!). Just speaking from experience with these toy breeds.

[BG and Gavin]

I do feel sorry for the Bichon. We are close neighbours and she has always treated our yard, out cottage and us as part of her domain. If the garage door is open, she comes and scratches at the door in the morning to come in and have her daily visit with me. Yep, she is going to be p*ssed that this big ole doodle is interfering with her life.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Definitely off leash.
How is Gavin's "down- stay"? It would really be best if he was in a "down" and she was allowed to approach him at that level.
I have to tell you that the Bichon may do more than growl. Jack used to go into an automatic "down" when he met a very small dog; then the shih-tzu around the corner snarled and snapped in his face twice. No blood was drawn, but Jack no longer assumes a submissive position around small dogs and can be reactive to them if he doesn't know them. In retrospect, I wish I would not have let him get near this dog at all, because it was much nicer when he tried to be friendly and submissive with small dogs.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Quincy too assumes a down position when meeting small dogs. People think this is really cute and that he is really well trained. I don't tell them that this is something that he does on his own. The down position doesn't always work but luckily Quincy has never countered with aggression on any kind. A friend of mine has a small dog not so affectionally known as Snarly Charlie. My theory is that what little dogs lack in size they make up for with attitude. Look at the bright side, maybe Gavin and the Bichon will be great friends. When they meet I would be sure and stay close enough to intervene if necessary. Good Luck.

[Melissa & Porter]

Porter gets along well with my sister-in-law's pug (there is quite a size difference, he is a small for a pug). But the pug is Alpha and they do get in snarl/growl contests over couch space when we are at my mother-in-law's house. The pug lives closer, spends more time there and sees the sofa as his. Outside or even in other rooms of the house, though, they get along wonderfully..

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Off leash, neutral ground. Does Gavin like to retrieve? If so take his favorite toy and give him something to do besides annoying the "queen'. The bichon hopefully does not like to retreive. Some do, but usually not. The nervous owner is going to be the biggest problem, so good luck with that one. Especially since you have had previous good experiences with Gavin liking smalller dogs, maybe you could let the two play while you talk about something riveting to the nervous owner. Usually it only takes a few minutes for the dogs to come to an understanding.

[BG and Gavin]

Great feedback - yes he's a retreiver, loves his tennis ball. The Queen is not a fetcher. I was thinking I will try to get the neighbour to meet Gavin alone first, so that he can see that Gav is just a big ole goof ball and would never hurt a flea. Heck he will hardly even bark. I am sure it will be a bit confusing for Gavin in the house as the Queen has a spot on her favorite chair in our cottage and Gavin is not allowed on the furniture. But, those are the rules.

[BG and Gavin]

Good idea about the walk. The Queen is really a very,very nice dog and I am very fond of her. She is just used to having things a certain way and her dad is very protective of her, so her nose gets a wee bit out of joint when there is change.

[BG and Gavin]

To follow up - Gavin met the Queen and they seemed to do pretty well together. See pic above.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm so glad! The photo is adorable and Gavin looks smitten!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

That's great! It's hard to resist a dood!