How to safely home a new puppy with existing dog

[Squills]

We have a 3 year old Border Collie and on Saturday got a rescue puppy. The puppy is a Yorkie x chihuahua x something else. She is 9 weeks old and tiny.

We've kept the dogs apart at night- she's slept in her crate in the kitchen and he in his usual bed in the utility room - between them is a dog gate which we've adapted so she can't get in with him by accident during the day.

During the day we've allowed him to come up to her whilst she's being held but haven't allowed her onto the floor whilst he's there. We let her run about when he's been out for walks etc and I take her in the garden when he's asleep inside. On the occasions they've come close our dog has not taken too well to her. He's snarled once baring his teeth (very alarming) and growled a few times. We've called the rescue organisation and they've given advice including giving the number of an animal behaviourist should it become necessary.

I'm sure others here will have introduced a puppy into a home with a resident dog - how did you do it?

Slowly and without making it look like the new addition is getting treated better than existing dog.

So puppy comes into the house after a first meet not in the house. Same rules apply for all the dogs in the house. Puppy is not given more fuss etc in front of existing dog only out of view. Supervise all interaction until you feel happy it's safe. If dog one is not allowed on the sofa new dog is now allowed on the sofa if new dog gets treats unless purely for training existing dog gets treats. Make them equal.

That should read new dog is now allowed on the sofa.

Bloody phone NOT allowed. Sorry

It isn't difficult to introduce a puppy into a home with existing dogs - just get on with it. Puppy comes in, gets put into a crate and then ignored while you make a cup of tea, or whatever you'd usually do when you've just come home - fuss the older dog as usual.

When all is calm and normal just very casually open the cage door and let the puppy come out.

The older dog is bound to growl and snarl at it - it's how they tell puppies to behave themselves and not hang on their ears or bite their knackers. The puppy is likely to scream blue murder the first time the older dog tells it off, but that's normal too. Unless you already know you have an agressive dog, I would just keep an eye on the interactions, but to be honest, if the older dog had a real problem it would have killed the pup by now, not just snarled.

Also, be aware that by separating them and keeping her off the floor (why?) when the older dog comes in you are creating the problem. You're telling the two dogs they are different from each other and I'd guess that's a significant part of the problem. I am not at all sure why you're only letting her run around when he is out for a walk? What does she do while he's in the house?

Thanks for your replies.

Daisy, we're keeping her off the floor when our older dog is in because we're afraid he'll go for her. Its because she's so small - if he did bite her it would be very nasty indeed because of her size.

Can you put older dog on a lead, puppy on floor and let them get used to each other with someone ready to pull older back if needed.

I agree that not letting her on floor around other dog is just going to cause more problems they need to be allowed to interact like normal dogs I know the pup is small and your afraid that if the other dog does go for it it could be nasty but they will never learn to be friends and play together if they can't both be on the floor in the same room as each other.
Like another poster said but other dog on lead and hold it loosely you don't want the other dog to pick up on your tension and nerves and let new dog on floor so they can interact, try using treats when the interact positively give the old dog one first before the pup.
You might get the odd growl but that's how older dogs tell pups what's acceptable play as long as older dog is not obviously being dog aggressive just let them get on with it just monitor all interactions untill your sure they are ok together.

Our rescue JRT went for the 5 month old terrier we introduced quite often in the early days but only drew blood occasionally and they were always small scratches that were probably accidental. It did look and sound as if he was murdering her though.

You do need to put the puppy down and trust them to work out their relationship by themselves, perhaps with the safety net of a long-line on the older dog so you can pull him away.

By interfering, you are likely to make them both more stressed and disrupt their natural communication, resulting in more conflict, not less.

Make sure you feed them separately and don't have treats out. You don't want to give them anything to fight over.

Don't tell the older dog off for growling at the puppy. He needs to be ale to teach her how to behave.

We've just done this, introduced 11 week pup to a nervous dog aggressive bitch!! She was taken out for a long walk before we got home, introduced in garden on lead, husband had puppy me dog as she is more centred on me. Moved forward slowly lots of stopping, treat and praise. Quick sniff and walked away. Repeat. In house they were never alone together, slept in separate rooms for first few nights. Here we are one week later, best of friends, in fact puppy is terrorising older dog who is currently letting him get away with it!! Older dog gets attention first, lots of praise, fed first etc