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My dog is territorial and bit the new dog. How to ease transition?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 25 lbs

Hello, I have two dogs; Maisie (10, Beagle x Poodle) and Coco (8, Maltese x Spoodle) but we are currently pet sitting a 15 year old Labrador for a month whilst her owner is away. Maisie is getting very territorial and tonight attempted to bite the new dog twice. Any tips on how I can make this transition easier?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on August 15th, 2019

I can't blame Maisie. She has things the way she likes it, then a stranger moves in and is always in the way. I would recommend keeping them separated until she seems more comfortable with the new dog. You can try Adaptil diffusers or DAP collars to provide calming pheromones, which may help her know things are going to be ok.
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