HI EVERYBODY!! </Dr. Nick>
I am brand new here, though I have looked through these forums quite a few times.

Bear with me, this is a long one, but i would be SO thankful for any input.

My wife and I got two puppies a little over 5 years ago (Apollo and Venus, Pit/Boxer mix, brother and sister), and love them love them love them...
Earlier this year, Venus fell ill and began to lose weight rapidly. She was diagnosed with Lymphoma and was recently put to sleep. Apollo has obviously been different since. He is generally oblivious for the most part, but my wife and I can tell!

We decided in the last month or so that we wanted to adopt and rescue a companion for our good boy. We have talked both to rescues and shelters, and over this past weekend we met a wonderful no-name yellow lab "#7".

We met her and she's sweet as can be. Great with my son, (18 month old Maxwell!) and all around seems like a perfect fit. We chose her on Saturday, she was spayed Tuesday, and we picked her up last night. Sadie (that's #7's new name) hopped right in the back of the 4runner, layed on the dog bed we brought her, then over the seat, next to my son, and put her head on his lap for the ride home. (can you stand it? so good!)

When we got home, my wife waited outside while I went in to get Goodboy (that's Apollo) so we could introduce them out front, outside of Apollo's "turf".
WELL. We brought Apollo down to her, and when he got close, Sadie started to GROWL. Ack! Now, this was a low growl, and no roaring of terrible roars or gnashing of terrible teeth, but it WAS a growl. This went on for a few minutes, and we kept the distance between them and slowly brought them back together until she chilled out before bringing them inside.

For the rest of the night, it went like this: Sadie would lay be laying down (she was/is, after all, out of it, after being fixed, ordeal of adoption, etc.), and any time my oblivious old boy Apollo would wander by, doing his regular thing, she would throw him a look and a growl.

What's the deal? Is this just the way it goes? Was I expecting too much in wanting it to be a cuddle party as soon as Sadie had a warm home and Apollo had a warm friend?

The last dog we looked at was a beautiful Pit-mix named Sally (we only didn't adopt her due to differences of opinion in regards to the adoption agency's policies) and there wasn't even a hint of aggression or "words" being exchanged between the two. And this was a Pit! I figured it would be even easier with a sweetheart of a Lab.

We got this girl initially as a step-sister for my Apollo. But in only the 5 days we have known her and the 12 hours we've had her, we've fallen for her as well! Be that as it may, I do NOT want to have brought in a nemesis for my boy. What should we do? Nothing? Anything?

It should be noted that:
1. She is definitely out of it since her surgery (much more mellow than the day we met her, and she vomited a bit last night).
2. We don't know how long she was in the pound, nor why.
3. I don't think there has been anything going on between them other than her growls.
4. They have admittedly only known each other for less than 24 hours.

PHEW... well, sorry about that, first post and you all must hate me.
Thanks in advance,
CASEY

PS, Since I started this, from work, I have spoken to my wife, and it seems this growling has persisted through the night, as Sadie has been ...gGgrrroOowwling... this morning too! but now its gGgrrroOowwlBARK! (all one word.)
dunno if she's any meaner or just more awake.
PLEASE HELP!

Hello and welcome!
Now don't forget that your new girl has been through a lot of recent trauma. She was in 'jail', then sent to some strange person who sedated and operated on her, and now she's in a strange new home with a strange dog who keeps walking by her giving her looks. How scary! Also, as you mentioned, you know nothing about her previous life. Maybe she had a wonderful home and is sad/confused as to what happened to it. Maybe it wasn't so good and she's not used to such a nice place. Either way, she needs time to recoup from the surgery and adjust to all the new things around her.
Give her time and I bet her and your boy will be the best of friends. Just make sure each has his/her own space, special toys and food dishes.

thats sort of what i was thinking, but just want some reassurance. any other comments very welcome, let me know im just overthinking it, or if i need to freak out more. sort of like a poll! lol

I didn't see the word "crate" anywhere. that should have been an absolute before she was brought home. I would crate one while the other is out for awhile since you know there is a problem.

I would also suggest that if you are leaving them alone you definately crate her as you have no idea if she is destructive or may suffer from seperation anxiety

when dogs are introduced, it is best to do it slowly - not just let them together with the run of the house. often how the introduction goes dictates how or if the relationship goes.

yes, IMO you expected too much too soon. as said previously - she has just gone thru severe trauma & so has he. give them a lot of time & space

i am not a crater.
thats just as a general rule, but especially here, i couldnt bring myself to rescue an animal from prison, then confine them to an even smaller "cell" for even five minutes, let alone all night...
thats just me...btw, the growls are fewer and farther between. i think we'll be okay....
thanks all!

well I don't know if it rises to blasphemy but I'm sorry to hear that.

most dogs love their crates & view them as a special place where they are safe & can retreat to when they want peace & quiet.

i have seen that with my own eyes, but (at least with my last two) would have NEVER been successful in crating, they cant SART by loving it, and i couldnt bear the intro period...
case