New Puppy Joining House with 9 Year Old Dog

[admin]

Anyone had experience they can share about introducing a new puppy into a household that already has a dog?

[cokker]

Yes, Its HARD!! If the dog you have now is very territorial theres gonna be a few fights! We (me and my wife) have a 4 year old west highland white terrier (milo), when he was 3 we decided to get a jack russel as a playmate for milo as he looked a little lonely, BIG mistake that was, they would tear around the house for hours and never give up!

In the end milo would snap at (jake) and we feared he would do some damage one day, so we done what we thought was best and gave jake away to a friend (jakes doing very well now).

I think milo is happy now as we spoil him rotton! But he is a very good dog and were happy to have him!

[marion]

I'm sorry to hear you've had a bad experience - and I'm glad you've eventually got the situation sorted.

I have had dogs ALL my life (can't remember a day without at least one dog around:) ) - and have frequently introduced new dogs into the equation.

The first few days are always the most sensitive, but we have never - not once - been unsuccessful in helping them to get along together.

I must say though, that the process of integration begins waaaaay before bringing your new dog home. It is ever so important to ensure your new dog is of good stock and temperamentally sound. It is so unfair to inflict your old dog with a highly strung, or worse still, agressive puppy.

To keep it brief - you will find more detail on my site - I start off by keeping them apart, but letting them know the other is around. (I make sure all personal toys, food bowls, etc are not around to cause any confusion). The initial reaction eventually mellows and curiosity takes over! I then keep everything very, very calm and gradually let them sniff each other. I always make sure the older dog is well under control as they can traumatize a puppy quite easily. This getting to know each other process can take from just an evening to around a week on rare occassions.

If your dog has been properly socialized, you shouldn't have too much of a problem anyway. However, I never leave the dogs alone together for a good few weeks, and I never let the dogs harrass each other. All play has to be good natured - they can have as much rough and tumble as they like as long as it is in good spirits and no one is getting hurt. Do remember dogs are basically pack animals and they will jostle with each other till leadership is established.

The easiest time we ever had was introducing a rescue jack russell to our german shepherd and cat. The most difficult time we had was when the little jack russell went into mourning after our German Shepherd died and we got a little Scotty to keep her company. She absolutely HATED the scotty :( . However, a week later they were curled up in bed together. The scotty injected new life into the poor little jack russell and today they are inseparable - infact, they are both lying at my feet while I type this!

Trust this helps.

[topdog]

thx ever so much admin for asking this question & to cokker & marion for ur answers as i myself have been looking for answers to this question.
i have a 5yr old yorkie (chloe) & my mum wud like a dog of her own for her 60th birthday. chloe can be quite territorial but very lovable wen she gets used to you.
i wud like 2 let her have a litter & keep 1 of her pups but mum wud like a miniture pom.
any answers or suggestions wud be most appreciated.

[Donald Nunyerbiz]

LOL,
We got a ****zu about 3 years ago, with a protective Eskimo Husky, Dotson mix mutt which is about 13 years old.
LOL, Just takes time, we just gave them both their treats in the morning, that way they had to deal with eachother to get the treat. Since the old dog didn't likem but wanted the treat the yungun' got. I'm not sure exactly how it works but it does, and it leads to some FUNNY Mornings. One rushes back for a treat before the other, so she steals the others, it goes on like that for a bit until they realize their not really stealing but just giving up what they had before.:) :) :)

[nancy]

Hi I looked after my daughters staffi when she first got it, she brought it in a cat basket we just left the basket on the floor and let the doberman 10years old have a good sniff, when we let her out it was fine but if she got a bit wild with him we put her back in the basket. We did this for a few days and now they are best mates. I also rescued a 6month rotti in dec. and watched them at first but now they get on great. Always remember the old dog is the most important and the new ones have to learn to give them peace when they want it. Lastly when the pup gets treats always give the other dog his first.

[ChipsDad]

Hi Administrator! thanks for the rad website :)

..no experience with me unfortunately - i just got my first pup