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The doghouse

New pup and older dog....

18 replies

MyFriendsCallMeOh · 13/11/2015 13:16

I have a friend who works in a dog shelter, she fosters dogs (we're not in the UK so things are a bit different here and stray / unwanted dogs is a real issue). We already have a 2.5 year old rescue ridgeback / staffy mix (we've had her since 8 weeks old) and were looking for another dog to keep her company.

My friend adopted a 9 week puppy (schnauzer mix) from the shelter that she would be very happy to keep but said we could have him for a couple of weeks to see how he got on with our bigger dog. If so, we can keep him, if not, she will. We are both experienced dog owners, we both work from home, have big gardens etc and obviously know that dogs are for life - we are not taking this lightly!

However, 5 days in and our big dog doesn't like the little guy. She growls whenever he comes near her or her crate, if he climbs up on the sofa with her, she gets down, if he runs into the garden, she comes into the house. He is mirroring her, wants to be with her all the time, doing his best to ingratiate himself with her, lots of play bowing etc but she's just not interested. We have given her lots and lots of attention, treats and obviously the pup doesn't walk with us yet. I often take him out in the car so he gets used to that so big dog has time without him too. We'll wait another few days but I'm wondering if this is ever going to work. I think that right now he'd be better off with my friend (she has just adopted another 9 week old puppy herself and is looking for a companion for him).

Any thoughts? Is this ever going to work? Is there anything I can do to help big dog like little dog?

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KinkyAfro · 13/11/2015 14:45

No idea but if you both know dogs are for life then why is she willing to give him up? I'd be concerned for the dog if she's only having him because you don't want him.

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Asteria36 · 13/11/2015 14:50

Our old dog took a few weeks to acclimatise to the new pup (this was years ago). By the end of the first month they were playing together and sleeping in the same bed. I have seen it with a few other families with similar new pup/older dog scenarios.
If your older dog isn't being openly hostile or aggressive (growls are just a warning shot) then you should be ok. The pup just needs to learn its place in the pack!

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moosemama · 13/11/2015 15:04

My older boy loathed our pup when we brought him home. Very similar behaviour in the first week, second week less grumbling and a slow, gradual acceptance from then on. What really helped was when pup could come on walks and old dog realised he finally had someone who could keep up to run with (both Lurchers).

To be honest, adult dogs will growl at pups, to make them aware of their boundaries and put them in their place. As Asteria said, they are just a warning and not a sign of aggression.

Pup is now two and a half years old and whilst not as close as old dog was with my old girl, they share a bed and cuddle up together, love walks/runs and generally bump along together the rest of the time. The only time they've ever had a proper spat, it was over food and it turned out our old lad was poorly.

Old lad still won't go in the garden with the younger lad unless dh or I are out there, probably as a result of being ambushed by needle sharp puppy teeth every time he did it when the younger lad was a pup, but as that actually stops it being turned into a muddy race-track during winter, that suits us fine and they just go out separately. The younger lad is quite happy to play out there on his own anyway.

Old dog now howls if we take the younger lad out without him, so he must appreciate his company. I think he luffs him really, but is a curmudgeonly old git and has to keep up appearances. Grin

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MyFriendsCallMeOh · 13/11/2015 15:35

Thank you, we'll persevere for a bit longer. Big dog isn't openly aggressive to little dog, she is just teaching him his place I guess. I have seen her with other dogs, play bowing, keen to get along and play and I think I had a rose tinted vision of how it would be with a puppy in the house. Obviously visiting and walking with other dogs is different to having another dog in the house 24/7.

KinkyAfro, my friend has fostered over 50 pups in the last 6 months, she hasn't given this one up, she never took him to her house. She got him in her name because she happened to see him at the shelter and brought him straight to our house, but will take him if he doesn't fit with our family. She is holding off getting a companion for her dog in case we need to find another home for this little one, in which case she will take him. I don't think you understood my post. Either way, the pup will have a good home for life.

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 13/11/2015 15:52

I would say it took our older lab around 3 weeks to tolerate the new puppy. I'd persevere a bit longer OP

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MyFriendsCallMeOh · 13/11/2015 17:34

Thanks again, I'll let you know how we get on. Here are pics of the gruesome twosome....

New pup and older dog....
New pup and older dog....
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moosemama · 13/11/2015 17:54

Oh my goodness he's gorgeous! He looks almost exactly like a little pup I nursed when I was volunteering for the NCDL over 20 years ago. She had a severe Ecoli infection and I desperately wanted to keep her, but wasn't able to as my health declined and there was no way I could take on another pup at that point in my life. Sad

Your girl is beautiful too, such a soulful face and all those 'norty' spots! Grin Got to love those bat ears too. She's just lovely. Smile

Hope she starts to accept him soon and it's not long before they're best buddies.

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MyFriendsCallMeOh · 13/11/2015 19:47

Thank you. The shelter said the pup was a chihuahua X Maltese (we are in texas and everyday has chi in them!) but I think he's more schnauzer X chi (they're notoriously bad at guessing breeds), do you know what breed the pup you nursed was? I think this one will have eyebrows!

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moosemama · 13/11/2015 21:22

I can see how there could be at least a hint of Chi in there from his face. Definitely some sort of terrier too, although I can't really see it being Schnauzer given his colouring - unless he's a mixed breed, rather than a first cross and the colouring has come from something else. His fur looks far too coarse for a Maltese.

The little pup I nursed was actually a Lurcher and sparked a love of Lurchers for me (I have two at the moment). I don't know her exact mix, but probably Whippet x Terrier (now often called 'Whirriers' Grin) of some sort, best guess would probably be Patterdale or Bedlington. The black and white would have come from the Whippet in her case. She was less pointy-faced than most Lurchers though, so I think she took more from the Terrier than the Whippet side, iyswim.

We almost went for this gorgeous Whirrier girl when we took on our younger dog as a pup, but she was snapped up by someone else before we had chance. I can definitely see a resemblance to your pup there, although she's obviously bigger. She actually grew up to be a lot less, whiskery, than she started out so your boy may yet surprise you.

Other Whippet Terrier, mostly Bedlington crosses Daphne and Bonz,

Whatever he is, he's gorgeous. Smile

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MyFriendsCallMeOh · 14/11/2015 00:05

Oh no, I think I need a whirrier now, they are gorgeous, so expressive. Wary about the size but hoping our new boy has some lurcher in him, such lovely dogs, although rare here..... Thank you for sharing. What breed is your boy? Lurcher / whippet mix? I have a friend in Asia with 2 whippet rescues, we used to walk with them (pre dogs), totally adorable. So many dogs, so little time.....!

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moosemama · 14/11/2015 11:20

We were duped! Grin Our pup was quite frail and tiny when we got him. No -one knew his background, as he and one sibling were dumped in a ditch at birth. We had hoped he would be Whippet size or not much bigger, as we already had/have an older Lurcher that's 24" to the shoulder, but no, he grew - and grew - and grew and is now just shy of 29" to the shoulder. Hmm Grin

Here are some pictures of him at 8 weeks, 6 months and recently.

New pup and older dog....
New pup and older dog....
New pup and older dog....
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moosemama · 14/11/2015 11:24

... and here's one of our older boy. He's 10 this month and we do know his mix, it's Saluki/Deerhound x Greyhound/Bearded Collie. You'd think he would be the taller one with Saluki, Deerhound and Grey in his mix, but he's almost 5" shorter to the shoulder. Also, he was smooth haired as a pup, if slightly broken coated, but is a proper beardy, hairy lad. He kind of grew into his scruffiness! Grin

New pup and older dog....
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moosemama · 14/11/2015 11:25

I still want a Whirrier though. Dh and I have agreed that's probably what we'll get when our older lad passes on, as the younger one could never cope with being an only dog.

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MyFriendsCallMeOh · 14/11/2015 15:20

Your dogs are gorgeous, the eyes of your younger one in that photos are so soulful. It's amazing how much dogs change as they grow, especially the unknown mixes, hoping it works out with our little guy so we can see what he grows into!

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dottygamekeeper · 14/11/2015 21:19

We have a 10 year old springer, and recently got a springer puppy. The old dog was very stand-offish at first, just ignored the puppy, got up and walked away whenever the puppy came near etc, but 10 weeks down the line they are now playing really well together, sleeping in the same bed and the old one even lets the puppy get food first. It seems to have given the old one a new lease of life.

We have also, for the last week, been looking after my parents 11 year old terrier - when she first arrived she was very grumpy with the puppy, lots of growling etc, but now they are all happily going off on walks, and puppy and terrier were curled up next to each other on the sofa last night.

I think you should give it a bit longer, as Moosemama says it is a slow gradual acceptance, but seems to get much better once they can go on walks together.

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MyFriendsCallMeOh · 15/11/2015 14:00

Thanks Dotty, love your story. Not in a rush to hand this little one over to our friend, they're a long way off your situation but prepared to give this plenty of time.

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OldGreyCat · 17/11/2015 21:18

I have a 6 year old Basset.
She was with another Basset (private re-home) but they wouldn't let the other one go (she was 11 and not well).
I think mine would like company though.
She is laid back and gentle and very affectionate but a bit anxious re separation.

I've been offered a Jack Russell / chihuahua cross (10 weeks).
Are they nippy breeds?

Do you think he might be a bit spritely for her?
(or she might just squash him - she is a big ole Basset).

Ideally, we'd get another Basset but that has been veto'ed by H.
At least a wee dog could squeeze in the basket and wouldn't eat much more?

OP, sorry to jump in on your thread.

Moosemama your middle pic of your younger dog is utterly adorable.

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ilovesprouts · 30/12/2015 17:13

I have a 11 year old dog and 5 m old puppy they get along fine the older one puts the pup in its place then again so does the cat Smile

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