Dear Richard Madeley: ‘How can we make sure next door's big dog doesn't rile ours?'
Dear Richard,
The people next door have a Weimaraner dog, a great big fellow, good-humoured but a little slobbery. He can be noisy at times and once he jumped the fence and trashed some plants – but the neighbours were hugely apologetic and rebuilt it more sturdily. Generally we have a good relationship, although we're not close.
The problem is we have a long-standing commitment to get our own dog, and our two children are getting impatient. We're concerned that if we stayed at the cuter and fluffier end of the market the next-door dog would just see it as an animated chew toy. When we mentioned the plan to the neighbours they seemed to think this possibility was amusing.
We don't particularly want to get a larger breed. Our gardens are a good size but the connecting fence – even in its new enhanced form – would not stop the dogs from interacting. We don't want to let our children down, but we don't want things to get any, let's say, yappier than they are. What's the best way forward?
— Andi & Ruth, via telegraph.co.uk
Dear Andi & Ruth,
I think you'll be just fine. Stop worrying. Weimaraners are not aggressive; in fact they're often described as 'Velcro dogs' because they love to be around people and other pets. They're also intelligent and keen to please, making them particularly trainable and biddable. They're especially good with children, too.
So you're not living next door to some sub-X Bully creature, or any other breed known for aggressive, temperamental behaviour. It's a large unit, true, but a family-friendly, easy-going one.
Once you've decided which breed you are going to choose, my advice is to contact a reputable local dog trainer for professional advice on how to introduce your new pet to next-door's dog. But I've already done some research on your behalf, and here are some basic pointers.
They should first meet in a controlled, neutral environment such as a park. Both animals should be on the leash, and as you gradually allow them to get closer, reward positive interactions with treats, always supervising contact.
Keep the initial meeting brief. Expect them to sniff and circle – or simply ignore each other. Obviously if they start to fight, intervene at once. Patience is required. It can take several weeks for two dogs to get used to each other.
Good luck! Send me a picture of when they start playing together.
You can find more of Richard Madeley's advice here or submit your own dilemma below.
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