[Elisabetxxx]

Hi, we are currently fostering a female pit from the local pit bull rescue. I know the person who runs it and fosters many of the dogs and we talked about me fostering-to-adopt one of their long-time residents and she loved the idea.

We chose Nikki, a female who gets along well with all the other dogs in her previous foster home - males AND females of varying ages and breeds, including other female pit bulls and mixes.

Now, it's only been a day, but based on how all my past dog intros went, I'm already feeling it's not going to work out. We are crating and rotating, walking 2 dogs together at a time, letting 2-3 be together outside at a time, doing a lot of on-leash work. But I just feel my two females are always going to hate each other and I should maybe take Nikki back to the rescue. But then a friend of mine said she had a beagle that was nasty for MONTHS but then finally got along with everyone great after a lot of crating and rotating. Of course, I realize, it's a beagle, TOTALLY diff't than a pit bull, but I did want you guys' thoughts.

I do not want to bring this dog into a situation where she is going to have to spend half of her life in the crate, when in her foster home she 'ran with the pack' freely so to speak, and could be adopted into a home where she wouldn't have to live like this.

Comments, thoughts, suggestions.

Oh, below are some pictures of Nikki:

[uneniaPhenits]

She's a beauty but I've never had two females that weren't prone to fighting. The old adage dogs fight bitches kill always comes to mind. I would think it could work but one would have to be really submissive and the other the more dominant of the two. They also say that's the way to pick a mate for your dog.

[Elisabetxxx]

dogs fight bitches kill

Geesh! LOL

[anderriter]

I really am thinking that no matter what kind of dog you bring into your already-formed pack, you are going to have trouble. The introduction of a new dog will not only force you to change your current dogs' existing schedule, but it's going to change their entire demeanor towards one another.

At one point, we had a nice little structure going. Then I kept adding to the brood and we had a total of 14 dogs. From that point on, all my dogs have been kept on a crate/rotate plan as well as on chains. I have to rotate them inside for one-on-one time and eve the dogs that used to get along fine, no longer get along or they tolerate each other for a much shorter time period.

I think you just need to make the choice of whether or not you want to keep your pack the same as it is now or whether to make the choice to change things around, adopt a crate and rotate schedule, and just not let it bother you that the bonds between your dogs, even the current ones, will change.

It's really you, the owner's, choice. And I understand that it's a difficult one when you want to add a new dog yet have things stay the same. It just doesn't work that way.

[G778G9P0]

Mollie was our only "house" dog when we got Bella... both females. Bella was around 3-4 months old when we brought her in... and we did so under close supervision and that first day, always held onto Mollie's collar when she was near Bella, sniffing her and stuff. At first, Mollie would kinda snarl her lip up, but she also wanted to play. Mollie has always loved puppies and small dogs to play with. After a few days, she was fine with Bella, even when Bella would bite on her belly or lip. I still watch them closely, but they get along great, and Bella is about 6ish months old. Things may change once Bella is grown, but for now, they get along great.. I do, however, still separate them anytime I leave the house, and I will always do that, because I'm thinking an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[Elisabetxxx]

Thanks for all the advice so far! We are going to give this some more time. Good thing Nikki is an ANGEL in her crate!!

[anderriter]

Thanks for all the advice so far! We are going to give this some more time. Good thing Nikki is an ANGEL in her crate!!

My husband is like the general majority of people that wants all the dogs to get along and to have a nice, easy life of walking several dogs at a time, of turning out several dogs in the backyard to play, etc. Too bad he married me. I had APBTs before we met and the number of dogs I've owned/own has skyrocketed over the years. The days of the "simple life" will never be again. LOL Although it does make things more difficult, and can be aggravating at times, I prefer to have more dogs and keep them separated than have fewer dogs that get alone. It does wear me down more, but it's worth it to me.

I think it's just a personal decision that each person has to make for himself/herself.

[IronpumpedLady]

I've had pretty good luck getting females to get along for some reason. I ran a pack of five for years, four females, one male and fosters coming and going, etc.... Some of them took months of desensitization to get along, and some of them never could, where some got along right off the hop. I don't know... I don't think I'm the norm though. lol A day isn't much time. I would usually crate and rotate for weeks, if not months first, then progress to separation by baby gates, then leash walk bys while one dog is on an in house tie down, etc... All the while, knowing where my breaking stick was.

[syncFisee]

I don't have any advice but Nikki is a gorgeous girl! I hope it all works out.

[Elisabetxxx]

Well everyone, we did take her back to the rescue, we feel it just was not meant to be. I know we didn't have her that long, but the whole situation was stressing me out, my dogs out, and I was afraid it would mess up the great thing we have going now with our five dogs that get along now.

Kim, the owner of Fugee's Rescue, is a great dog mom & foster, and I know that Nikki will eventually find a home that can spoil her, where she doesn't have to compete with a bossy female dog like my Daisy, and where she doesn't have to be crated so much!

[syncFisee]

Aw I am sorry it didn't work out. It sounds like it was for the best, though. She is such a pretty dog. I really hope she finds her forever home soon. I'm sure you'll be able to find another pup to foster.

[G778G9P0]

Sorry this didn't work out, but the perfect dog is out there waiting for you, you just have to find her, hang in there!

[Anaedilla]

Aww, Im sorry it didnt work out. I hope you find a dog that better fits your home and I hope sweet Nikki finds a forever home soon.

[Elisabetxxx]

Thank you everyone. If we do get another dog, we are probably going to go with another breed and small-ish, b/c for some reason all my dogs love the little dogs, guess they aren't so threatening. But we have a great pack now - I mean look at them!! LOL