u/mydogislife_

I knew Bailey was the right pup for me & Dodger as soon as I saw him. Then we did a meet & greet at the rescue, it went great. I was convinced they’d be best friends immediately. Until I brought Bailey home.

I remember my first walk with both my boys together, my older boy Dodger & my then little but now giant boy Bailey. We made it about a block before Bailey made eye contact with Dodger & Dodger angrily howled full force at his audacity. I fell. We did not laugh. We went home & did not try again for a bit. Dodger often refused to leave the bedroom because he wanted to be away from Bailey (who was shockingly respectful of Dodger’s space as a puppy). I even broke down one day & cried like did I literally ruin Dodger’s life???

Bailey’s only a year & a half now, still a puppy even though an unusually calm puppy, so Dodger still gets annoyed by him. They get into arguments sometimes, not fights but arguments. But eventually Dodger came around (Bailey loved him on day one lol). It took A LOT of work on my part & it took Bailey growing up a bit too but here we are. Living the dream.

I’m just sitting here on the couch between my boys & feeling so grateful. I hoped Dodger & Bailey would be friends. They ended up brothers.

I don’t think it’s a necessity he meet new dogs or anything, I’m just curious! It started around 5yo.

He grew up around other dogs, going to dog parks. He was always very social, loved meeting new pups & playing with other pups! Proof: photo #2. Around 3 he became less play-oriented but still loved meeting new pups & was very sweet with them. Then around 5 he decided he hated german shepherds. All german shepherds. Around 6 he decided he hated puppies. All puppies. Hated his baby brother, took a bit for him to love him.

At 7 now he gets very nasty with any dog he doesn’t know. I don’t introduce him to new dogs anymore but I know this boy so well I know if he farts the wrong way, I know his mean bark. I don’t believe he’d bite but he would absolutely be nasty toward them if they got close or were off leash together. I don’t do dog parks anymore because my opinion changed on the safety with them through the years but toward the end of that I was really seeing the difference in him.

TLDR; My boy was very social as a puppy & until around 5 but, slowly & steadily, is now not good with other dogs. I have no problem with it, I am not asking for help with him meeting new dogs, he is content with just his hound brother & the dogs he already knows well. I’m just curious if this is common!