Just got puppy, should i introduce him to tortoise?

Killerrookie

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I have a shy Russian and I just got a puppy. How and should I introduce him to Caesar?
Haha NO, puppies are probably the worst thing to put around any tortoise because they just want to chew on them and have fun. The dog is gonna think it's a chew toy and start chewing down on him. You could hold the tortoise and show the puppy but I wouldn't let the dog anywhere near him.
 

Yvonne G

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+1 what Killerrookie said.

The best thing is for you to keep the russian tortoise's habitat up high so the puppy can't get into it. And later, when the tortoise is in his outside yard, fix the retaining walls so the puppy can't get in there, even after he's grown. He doesn't need to know about the tortoise at all. Keep him away.
 

Rachel Sobran

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But Ringo doesn't bite and Caesar has already met every other pet including a cat. He has also met 2 visiting puppies and got along just fine...

:rolleyes:
 

Rachel Sobran

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Plus they got together for a brief moment once and just sniffed each other, no biting or aggressiveness. in fact, it seemed quite friendly...
 

Killerrookie

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But Ringo doesn't bite and Caesar has already met every other pet including a cat. He has also met 2 visiting puppies and got along just fine...

:rolleyes:
That's what a lot of people say and guess what? Two weeks later they come back saying their tortoise has punctured wounds or was kill by their dog.
 

Yvonne G

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Rachel:

Please take the benefit of our experience to heart, and believe me when I say, puppies/dogs WILL chew tortoises. Maybe not today, but for sure he will chew him some day. I take in dog chewed turtles and tortoises all the time, and the majority of the time the owner say, "But the dog never ever paid attention to the tortoise before."

Once your Russian tortoise's legs are chewed off or the shell is popped open by those large canines, it's too late. Please believe us when we say, "KEEP THE DOG AWAY FROM THE TORTOISE!" We know what we're talking about.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-dog-story.45850/

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/dogs-and-turtles-again.116572/

These are just two of the many dog chew stories on the Forum
 
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Rachel Sobran

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but caesar lives in a tortoise palace on the table! ringo couldn't climb 4 feet high! is it ok to let them play with supervision?
 

Killerrookie

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I tried that once!! Dog tried to eat the poor hatchling so I never EVER keep the dogs near my babies because I don't want to lose them.
 

Killerrookie

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Listen if you care for your tortoises safety, just listen to us because we know what we're doing and some of us are professional cough* cough* Yvonne* is one of the best, don't tell anyone I said that.
 

Yvonne G

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but caesar lives in a tortoise palace on the table! ringo couldn't climb 4 feet high! is it ok to let them play with supervision?

I'm pretty sure you're just trolling. You're not going to get the answer you're looking for from us. We've all seen what happens between dogs and tortoises.
 

Rachel Sobran

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what?!!! i am not a troll, i just think ringo is different. he has never hurt anyone or anything, not even when another dog bit him!
 

Rachel Sobran

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maybe there r trolls on tortoise forum, but i can promise that i am not one *gives you my word on my honor* *serious face*
 

Killerrookie

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what?!!! i am not a troll, i just think ringo is different. he has never hurt anyone or anything, not even when another dog bit him!
Here are some things to consider...
ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1429983804.448257.jpg
ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1429983817.854170.jpg
ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1429983828.541468.jpg
Are you really willing to let your puppy around your Tortoise??
Puppies are the worst, they don't know how to behave and truly love to chew on ANYTHING, they can get ahold of.
 

Rachel Sobran

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oh my god that is so horrible i cried. :confused: i will never let caesar become that injured or injured at all
 

johnsonnboswell

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You make sure it never happens by making it impossible to happen. Don't assume that supervision makes it safe. It doesn't. Keep them apart & make the tortoise's habitat predator proof, indoors and out.

It's good you asked, especially since you got an answer you didn't expect.
 

Jodie

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Sure glad you asked this question. My dog never paid attention to my tortoise until one day out of the blue, she chewed him up. She is a super docile dog. I was lucky and she didn't puncture the shell. Mort fully recovered, but has some scars. Dogs just can't resist a walking chew toy.
 

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