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The doghouse

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Original poster

Introducing a new pup to a dog

14 replies

MidnightAura · 14/07/2017 02:13

We have an almost two year old Labrador bitch. Next week we are going to become puppy parents to a puppy that will one day go on to be an assistance dog for people with disabilities.

The new puppy will be a female lab and the puppy co ordinator has met my dog and is happy with everything.

I'm nervous though. I can't help but worry what if they don't get along? What if our dog just won't accept the pup? She does get on with the majority of other dogs and she's lived with a dog when we go away as we use a home boarder but that's a very laid back older dog, not an energetic puppy.

I am looking forward to the experience but I'm nervous. Any advice from people with more than one dog?

OP posts:
supersop60 · 16/07/2017 10:33

May I piggy-back on this thread? wanting advice on my 7 month old puppy meeting my sister's dogs. It was horrible the first time.

BestIsWest · 16/07/2017 11:28

We did this last week. We have an almost two year old dog and we're bringing home a male pup.

Advice was to meet on neutral ground and for the pup to be there first so we took pup to my mums and then brought the older dog in.

All going well so far, they love each other. Lots of play fighting going on.But still early days.

OhWotIsItThisTime · 21/07/2017 06:03

I'm introducing my pup to dm's dog. We will walk them together first and see how it goes. I'll carry a lot of treats...

MaitlandGirl · 21/07/2017 06:37

We've got a 7yr old neutered male and 2yr old entire male and added in a 4yr old neutered female earlier this year. They're all the same breed (the female is our youngest mum) and it went much better than I was expecting.

We had the female on a lead on the street outside our house and brought the oldest boy out first. He's pretty nonplussed by other dogs (except our youngest who irritates him!) and his whole back end didn't stop wagging when he met her.

The meeting with the youngest was exactly as we expected and he was thrilled to meet her but he loves all dogs with great enthusiasm.

The one thing I will say is watch them carefully when the puppy comes into season - some bitches really take against each other when hormones come into play and it can get really nasty.

InvisableLobstee · 21/07/2017 06:47

I haven't done this myself, but I've read its a natural instinct for older dogs to be nice to young puppies. They will naturally give them a lot of leeway to play and take care of them.

RebeccaWithTheGoodHair · 21/07/2017 14:10

I took my dogs out for their favourite walk whilst DH brought the puppy home and let him explore and get used to things. When we got back my dogs were interested in the puppy but had other things on their mind (food!). From then on it was just making sure that the big dogs kept their routines and got loads of fusses and cuddles (no change there!!).

Wolfiefan · 21/07/2017 14:12

You need to ensure that the older dog had time and space away from the puppy. The puppy may want to play relentlessly. That should be with you more often than with older dog!

BestIsWest · 21/07/2017 14:48

It's the other way round here, older dog wants to play more often but he is not quite two yet so young himself. Puppy is a good sleeper and we're putting him in his crate so older dog gets time away - plus walks of course.

nannybeach · 22/07/2017 22:40

Our vet told us as soon as you bring home new puppy put all the dogs together straight away, but, our toy who is now 11, we had travelled 100s of miles it was midnight, I put him in the room with our 2 border collies, (both bitches) one became his best friend and "mothered" him, they other growled every time he walked by, but then she was an antisosical sole, they muddled along fin, unfortunately his best maet died suddenly, then we had to put the other one to sleep at 17 (kidney failure) he cried, so we got another border collie, he loved her from the word go.

Original poster
MidnightAura · 27/07/2017 15:17

Well we got the pup, my dog is frightened of her as pup is very vocal. When she barks my dog barks back and then moves away. Pup has two crates and is currently sleeping in one.

Advice from the trainer for the pup (as she's not ours we are just puppy walking ) is to keep them separate via our pet gate or pup to be crated. They haven't met other than through the bars of the crate or the gate.

But it's only day one, we aren't going to push things before either dog is ready.

OP posts:
IStoleDipsysHat · 27/07/2017 16:57

When we introduced ours the puppy was asleep in a large cage with the door open. The poor thing had a terrible journey home due to car sickness. Our older dog greeted us all and got lots of fuss, then we let her investigate sleepy pup. She gave him a good sniff then let him sleep.
Less than a week later we hear him crying and her barking, she's got him on the stairs and is trying to teach him to use them. They've been great friends ever since.

Original poster
MidnightAura · 27/07/2017 21:00

Sadly that's not been the experience so farShock My dog has had a good sniff and just randomly starts barking at her which sounds quite ferocious. Dog is not a barker.

Dog has also nipped her by accident through the gate and the poor wee pup squeled. Little blood but she's fine. Spoke to the trainer who said she isn't concerned but we have to keep them separate all weekend.

OP posts:
nannybeach · 15/09/2017 09:32

Course, you didnt say you were just looking after the dog, that puts a whole different light on the situation. So not giving any advice, good luck with it, and your behaviour expert X

BLUEsNewSpringWatch · 16/09/2017 09:26

nanny wtf?! Op said in her original post! Your failure to realise that doesn't warrant a nasty response once you do!

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