Bringing a new dog home - need some pointers

jadielin

jadielin

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Hi everyone,

I just am looking for some tips on bringing a dog into my home while having a piggy.

I have a senior pig, Penny (she recently lost her cage mate but is doing fabulous on her own). She was very submissive to her sister and now she seems to actually be showing some of her personality and I am loving it! Anyway, I am adopting a rescue dog from Korea, he is a 1.5 year old chihuahua mix. He is described as being very gentle, calm and apparently rarely ever barks (bonus!).

I live in a larger-ish studio condo. I have rearranged my home and Penny’s enclosure is 3.5ft up now - so there is no chance the dog will be able to get even close to her (obviously I would never let anything happen to my baby, lol. So she’s up super high now!). The dog will be crate trained so that when I’m not home, I know that everyone is safe.

I know it will be an adjustment for her and she’ll probably be scared at first (hearing him walking around, the occasional bark). She previously lived with me in a house with a dog - but never in the same room/space. Unfortunately, I don’t have a separate “room” to put her in.

I’m just looking for any tips/experiences etc. on anyone else who has brought a dog into their home while having piggies?

Picture of her new set up attached!

Thank you in advance!
 

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The issue might be separation anxiety with doggy. If you are at home normally and dont go out much it could be OK. I think a pet cam might be a good idea. Try going out and see how doggy responds. Crate training is goid but quite complicated so getting advice on this, and then more advice is a good idea. I would take the pot plants and put them away somewhere. But I hope everyything goes OK. Chihuahuas often dont like other animals and can be jealous, so you might need to create some boundaries from the start. A chihuahua tantrum is quite a thing. But they are lovely little dogs and with some common sense things should work. Perhaps sleeping in her own bed initially and not being in your lap all the time. Good luck, I hope it goes well. ❤
 
It’s always good to be prepared and think of everything
I have a Chinese crested dog ( weighs about 10kg) they are known to be ‘ ratters’ ie catch rats etc
I have a lid on my c&c cage and maybe you could add a lid
I never leave him alone in the sitting room - I’m always there too or he is outside in the hall or kitchen
He isn’t interested in my piggies as they , like your girl, are up higher .
As @Truffolo says maybe move the plants.
I never take the piggies out if he is in the room, he’s always shut away.
My dog is a reactive barker but the piggies ignore the noise.
Lots of forum members have dogs and piggies so I’m sure they will be along to offer advice
Good luck !
 
I was also thinking, if doggy starts barking, jumping up at the cage etc, don't scold, say no, smack, yank or push doggy. Preferably don't use voice commands. Put a blanket over the cage to remove the stimulus. You can do a time out but not in the crate. Stay very relaxed and calm. Piggy will probably go into her house and freeze. Place plenty of hay and food and water in the house so that Penny can feed where she is hiding. Even having doggy in the room could stop her from coming out to eat. Scolding doggy will increase the stimulus and excitement. You want the stimulus to reduce or stop so doggy learns that this is of no interest and learns to calm himself. Soothing or contact can also increase the stimulus, so just ignoring the dog might be better, or doing a very calm time out. The less you react the sooner doggy will calm down naturally. If he is around the cage, go elsewhere yourself and don't interact if possible to make the cage as boring as possible.
 
Have you thought about getting Penny a friend ….i think in time solo piggies do show signs of loneliness
A friend would give her company and she wouldn’t be aware of the dog so much
Just a thought
 
I have a doggy and piggies. Penny will get used to any new noises the doggy will make. I never get the piggies out unless Chester is locked out of their room and when I’m out of the house their door is kept closed. Their cage is raised up too so Chester can’t see into their cage.

Can’t wait to see pictures of your new arrival when they are settled in. My sister rescued a dog from Italy. ❤️
 
Truffolo said:
The issue might be separation anxiety with doggy. If you are at home normally and dont go out much it could be OK. I think a pet cam might be a good idea. Try going out and see how doggy responds. Crate training is goid but quite complicated so getting advice on this, and then more advice is a good idea. I would take the pot plants and put them away somewhere. But I hope everyything goes OK. Chihuahuas often dont like other animals and can be jealous, so you might need to create some boundaries from the start. A chihuahua tantrum is quite a thing. But they are lovely little dogs and with some common sense things should work. Perhaps sleeping in her own bed initially and not being in your lap all the time. Good luck, I hope it goes well. ❤
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Thank you so much!
 
Roselina said:
Have you thought about getting Penny a friend ….i think in time solo piggies do show signs of loneliness
A friend would give her company and she wouldn’t be aware of the dog so much
Just a thought
Click to expand...
Hi there!

Penny does unfortunately have a terminal condition 😔 I'm not sure how much longer I have with her, and I think trying to bond her with another piggy may cause her more stress than she needs. 😩
 
jadielin said:
Hi there!

Penny does unfortunately have a terminal condition 😔 I'm not sure how much longer I have with her, and I think trying to bond her with another piggy may cause her more stress than she needs. 😩
Click to expand...


Oh I’m sorry to hear that about Penny - you’re giving her the best days which is all a piggy could want ❤️
 
jadielin said:
Hi there!

Penny does unfortunately have a terminal condition 😔 I'm not sure how much longer I have with her, and I think trying to bond her with another piggy may cause her more stress than she needs. 😩
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear this 😔
 
Hi, I would recommend getting a 'pet barrier' that you can put up when doing anything with Penny, doggy one side, you and Penny the other.

I have gerbils and a terrier cross in the same room and when I do anything with my girls, the barrier goes up, my dog can still hear and see me, I can talk to him etc, but the girls are safe.
The gerbilarium is also on a table that's higher then my dog and I taught him from the beginning that he has to remain on four paws when around the gerbilarium. He quickly learned and just ignores them.
 
jadielin said:
Hi everyone,

I just am looking for some tips on bringing a dog into my home while having a piggy.

I have a senior pig, Penny (she recently lost her cage mate but is doing fabulous on her own). She was very submissive to her sister and now she seems to actually be showing some of her personality and I am loving it! Anyway, I am adopting a rescue dog from Korea, he is a 1.5 year old chihuahua mix. He is described as being very gentle, calm and apparently rarely ever barks (bonus!).

I live in a larger-ish studio condo. I have rearranged my home and Penny’s enclosure is 3.5ft up now - so there is no chance the dog will be able to get even close to her (obviously I would never let anything happen to my baby, lol. So she’s up super high now!). The dog will be crate trained so that when I’m not home, I know that everyone is safe.

I know it will be an adjustment for her and she’ll probably be scared at first (hearing him walking around, the occasional bark). She previously lived with me in a house with a dog - but never in the same room/space. Unfortunately, I don’t have a separate “room” to put her in.

I’m just looking for any tips/experiences etc. on anyone else who has brought a dog into their home while having piggies?

Picture of her new set up attached!

Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
My pigs were great friends with my dog. He was a pup when they met and he is such a placid little dude, always happy to see other animals, that we socialised them from the start. Piggies would use him to cuddle up to, or hide under him, or they'd use him as a shade when in their run. They just bossed him around and when they both died, within a couple of weeks of each other, he came and lay near them for a few minutes with his head on their bodies. When he eventually accepted they'd gone he didn't even want to go near them. Think he knew and it was a bit much. Still sniffs at the old hutch sometimes but knows its empty.
I think dogs are ok but if they are highly strung pedigree types like chihuahuas I'd keep an eye on things all the time. Most dogs don't have diluted to death dna like my chill little mutt. He even belly submits to the cat. And she still gives him an occasional paw across the nose.
 
loulabelle123 said:
My pigs were great friends with my dog. He was a pup when they met and he is such a placid little dude, always happy to see other animals, that we socialised them from the start. Piggies would use him to cuddle up to, or hide under him, or they'd use him as a shade when in their run. They just bossed him around and when they both died, within a couple of weeks of each other, he came and lay near them for a few minutes with his head on their bodies. When he eventually accepted they'd gone he didn't even want to go near them. Think he knew and it was a bit much. Still sniffs at the old hutch sometimes but knows its empty.
I think dogs are ok but if they are highly strung pedigree types like chihuahuas I'd keep an eye on things all the time. Most dogs don't have diluted to death dna like my chill little mutt. He even belly submits to the cat. And she still gives him an occasional paw across the nose.
Click to expand...
Sweet fellow. Puppies can be trained to socialise with other pets, but adult dogs are pretty set. Alot depends in what the dog has grown up to experience.
 
jadielin said:
To update everyone!

I thankfully got an angel of a dog. He has the lowest prey drive I’ve ever seen hahahaha. They don’t acknowledge each other at all! I did show him Penny just so he knows that she is there and he just stared at her, even when she ran away!
Click to expand...
Excellent to hear. Wishing you lots of good times with your pup 🥰
 
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