Theo earns his keep

I've been trying to figure out how to introduce Smokey to other dogs. I finally did it Monday afternoon, and repeated it on Tuesday. I decided that Theo was the dog to meet. He's big enough, young enough, old enough, and has enough experience to handle a young punk like Smokey. Smokey acts and talks tough, but the more I see of him the more I think he's actually just a scared little boy. 

Theo was in the dog yard and I closed him out of the shed and then brought Smokey into the shed on a leash through the back door. I opened the door into the dog yard and then just stood back out of the way. Smokey tried an aggressive move on Theo, but Theo saw it for what it was and just gave it back to him. The key though, was that Theo didn't escalate it. He showed Smokey that he could and would defend himself without turning it into an all-out rumble. Max could have handled him too, but I think that combination would have resulted in a fight. Theo handled him but didn't hurt him. Smokey tried another time or two, but Theo managed it all very well. 

It was clear that Smokey just didn't know how to interact with another dog and he just went into a defensive/aggressive mode, trying scare tactics that really betrayed his insecurity.  On Tuesday I put them together again, over in Smokey's kennel. It was even easier the second time and I left them together for most of the afternoon. It was a good first step.

The pictures are grainy and fuzzy but photography was not my main objective.

Theo, on the right, is the one showing teeth here, but
he is just responding to and correcting Smokey.
Look at Theo's tail and ear position in comparison
to Smokey's. Smokey is submitting and Theo is
using but not abusing his superior power.

Here they are, moments later, coming to an
understanding.

Once he learns how to play, he will enjoy running with Theo.

Smokey enjoyed running around the dog yard,
even if it is a muddy mess right now.

This next series of four pictures show Theo's rapprochement. Theo may have a future in diplomacy.

Smokey had taken up a position on the porch of the shed.
Theo approached but didn't make eye contact.

Theo was testing the waters, turned slightly towards Smokey,
and Smokey was the one who turned away.

Theo is now looking directly at him, but not in a
threatening manner. Both dogs have their ears slightly
back, not submissive, but not challenging.

And now they are able to look eye-to-eye without
a fight, trying to get along.

He will be much happier when he can be with other dogs and they will have
the best chance of teaching him how to behave with people.