Home For the Holidays

Dear Dog Lady,

I have a three-year-old male Westie (West Highland terrier). My sister has a five-year-old male Westie. She is coming for Christmas with the dog to stay. The dogs met only once before and hated each other. Any tips to prevent bloodshed over the holiday?

Yvonne, Scotland

Yvonne, how delightful to have a house teeming with relatives and white tornados during Yuletide. The dogs will get along the way you and your sister get along. If there’s peace, the animals will sense it and react accordingly. If there’s tension around the dogs, the friction will inevitably spill over and taint the figgy pudding. You know how family togetherness can go nuclear. And male dogs can go testicular, although Dog Lady assumes you and your sister have done the responsible thing and each dog is fixed.

Dog Lady suggests you not worry about the dogs. If they are neutered and socialized, they will co-exist because you and sis will work together not to indulge your pets' gruff natures. Think the best of the dogs. For instance, they do not “hate” each other; they are merely unaccustomed to one another. Your dog will certainly be more territorial since it’s his turf. Make sure you welcome your sister’s dog with great cooing and praise. Do this in front of your Westie and your dog will understand he doesn’t need to protect you from the houseguests.

If sparks fly, you can crate the dogs, or keep them separate for a spell and then slowly reintroduce them. As a togetherness exercise, you and your sister could give treats while exerting your collective authority over the dogs. Command the cuddle-bums to sit. Hand out the goodies one at a time, going from one dog to the next and back. Lavish praise. Immediately silence any growls.

Do not, however, set down the Westies' food or water bowls in the same space. I’m sure you understand how grub inflames a dog's selfish nature. You can't send grumpy Uncle Fergus to the mudroom to slurp his Christmas gravy but you can set any dining rules you want for the canine cousins.

A shared romp is the best icebreaker. Take the dogs outside for a ramble, preferably off the leash. The dogs will be happy to go. The outdoors offers new sniffing horizons for the animals so they won’t focus on each other. The time allows the dogs opportunity for parallel play. You and your sis can stroll along and catch up.

Yvonne, when you look back on Christmas 2004, Dog Lady believes you will not recall bloodshed, but you will fondly remember the bracing walks with the furballs as the highlights of the holiday.

Posted by Dog Lady at December 18, 2004 06:09 PM