ArcaMax

Dear Barbara,

I have had dogs that didn't get along with other dogs, so I feel your pain. I can make no promises; aggression is tough to manage. But I will offer some suggestions to try.

First, buy her an Anxiety Wrap to wear whenever she has to manage stressful situations, like seeing other dogs or going for walks or visiting the vet's office. Next, a few weeks before the dogs meet, ask your son to provide a towel or blanket with his dogs' scent on it, and put it near where Lacey sleeps. If you live in the same city, walk Lacey down one side of the street and have your son walk his dogs down the other. Be sure she is medicated and wearing her anxiety wrap. She will still misbehave, but we want her to get her used to seeing and smelling your son's dogs.

When you arrive at your son's house, keep Lacey in your room for a few days with a blanket with the other dogs' scent. When you take her out to relieve herself, ask your son to confine his dogs so that she can sniff freely around the house and yard.

As for the actual meeting between the dogs, it might be safest for everyone to put her in a kennel when in the same room as the other dogs. She will get upset, but you can always cover the kennel and give her a Kong toy with frozen peanut butter when she begins to settle down. Introduce the Kong toy earlier if she is not settling down. It may help distract her.

It could take several weeks before she is comfortable around these dogs. Sometimes, dogs that are reactive with other dogs learn to live peacefully with other dogs in the home, but even then, never feed them together. Keep me posted.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)

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