Q: Hi David and Paula, I live in Saratoga Springs, NY and we don't get your column in our daily newspaper but it would be nice if The Saratogian would have it.My family lives in Rome and often tells me about what you write.  I have a question that wasn't answered on your web site and I was hoping that you might shed a little light on it for me.   

We have mixed breed 7 yr. old dog, the best and smartest dog we have ever owned. Ren is mostly an outside dog coming in only on very cold winter nights or if his barking at night gets too much. We don't have any neighbors in close proximity.  

Renegade hates other dogs. When anyone comes up to the house and has a dog in the car, Ren goes nuts. When we are out for a walk and a dog and owner is walking in the other direction, Ren goes nuts. Renegade has never played with another dog and we are thinking of getting another dog to keep him company but don't know how that would work.

He seems bored and with the kids all gone I feel like he should have a playmate. I watch my sisters dogs romp and frolic with one another and wish Ren could enjoy such fun as well.   Do some dogs just never get along with other dogs or is he just protecting us or our property?  

Thank you so much and Good Luck with your business 

Joanne Klepetar

A: Based on the information that you have provided, it sounds as if Renegade has multiple problems. First being that he is unsocial and may have developed territorial aggression, guarding what he feels is his. Being that he is a total outside dog, the dog is basically on its own. He has no structure, leadership, rules, guidance ,human contact or stability. Dogs don't need other dogs to fulfill their needs, they get pack structure from their human pack. 

Getting another dog at this point, FOR YOUR DOG as a companion, is not a good idea and would not be fair to not only your dog, but the new dog as well. If you put two dogs together in a situation like this one, they will do one of two things : Fight for Alpha position amongst themselves, whichcould be quick and over with or could lead to the serious harm of one if not both animals. You should never put dogs together and just hope for the best or let them work it out for themselves. A better scenario, they may find a way to co-exist and form a pack "together"  then you will have not one, but two unruly dogs, unsocial,fearful dogs. This is where a bigger problem occurs. Dogs learn behavior from one another good and bad.SOME dogs just are not good around other dogs, some are ,but just misunderstood by their owners.

In our professional opinion, you should have the dog temperament tested and evaluated by a trainer in your area. If you are unable to find one, please contact us, as we do travel.  The dog should be tested on his home turf, where he feels most confident AND on neutral ground, where he feels less confident so that the trainer can truly determine if it is fear /escalated into aggression or simply just a fear/ unsocial  tactic behavior.

Dogs that act out of fear, are not protecting their owners, they're protecting themselves because they feel that their owners have not provided them with the security of pack protection.