We adopted 'Marian', the older Great Dane, a week ago; I thought you might like an update, together with some photos. You can see her here with her new friend, Aslan, our 6 1/2-year-old Great Pyrenees, and Norbert.
She was such a good girl right from the very first moment. We thought she'd be scared on the ferry trip back to Vancouver island, so we stayed in the van with her all the time (apart from a few minutes). She slept on her new bed in the back nearly all the way. Probably exhausted from all her experiences, the surgery, a month at RAPS, and suddenly new people again. We introduced her to Aslan on neutral ground; the usual sniffing introduction, then they both went for a walk together before the sniffing turned from courteous to a bit rude. No problems on the first walk.
We kept an eye on them together for the next three days, just while they both adjusted. Then the next step was leaving them together in the house while we were still there, but not in the same room. All OK. Over all those days they got into three differences of opinion, just air snapping, dominance stuff, nothing serious; usually it was just because they'd both tried to get through the same doorway at the same time. No real aggression just for the sake of it.
Then it was a visit to the vet for an introduction; the entire staff were waiting anxiously to meet her, she had such a big fuss made of her. All is well, they figure she's probably about 5 or 6 years old and that she does, as you had said, have a bit of Catahoula from somewhere!
We can now leave them alone in the house together for a couple of hours (and probably more if we wanted to) and no problems (at least not that either of them have told us about) and they ride together nicely in the back of the van. After much thought we have named her Abigail, often shortened to Abby. No, she doesn't have a clue yet but that's OK. This week we'll be doing some basic training at home so that she and Aslan are on the same page when it comes to commands! She has shown her Catahoula side more this past day or two, blocking Aslan's way into different rooms, just by turning sideways; no growling or anything like that. He hasn't complained. Mostly she does it because we're around, I think. And she's tried that Catahoula trick, while they are playing, of trying to knock him over, very gently, but butting her head under his tummy and trying to dislodge his back legs. Hasn't worked because he's pretty savvy. Today was her first day in the dog park and she behaved very politely.
After our Great Dane died last September Aslan stopped eating and lost quite a bit of weight. We tried all the different foods and tricks, but no luck; our vet had suggested another dog but knew that we didn't really want to do that since we have enough to worry about with my MS these days. But of course that didn't work, and you'll be pleased to know that as soon as Abigail arrived, Aslan started eating again. What a relief. And he has a new friend to be with.
Anyway, thank you for letting us adopt her. We think she is a gem, and so do all our friends.
Regards
Diane
