Any tips for introducing new puppy?

[whatatod0]

We have an 11mth old Border Terrier, and will bring home a 9 week old Sprocker in two weeks time.

What would your tips be regarding introducing the two dogs? We've never had more than one dog before, so are new to this aspect.
Thanks

Don’t just bring puppy home!

Firstly, get the dogs use to the smeller of each other, so bring a blanket home when you next see puppy with puppy’s scent on it and visa versea.

Secondly, walk the dogs together. I know puppy can’t do too much or as much as your border terrier but they can do a little bit. I cannot stress how important it is to walk the two together and then go home. It allows the dogs to meet on neutral ground, so the original dog doesn’t feel the need to ‘defend the homestead’ against the new puppy.

Thirdly, pick up all toys. Your original dog may well not want puppy to play with ‘his’ toys, so may cause an issue if puppy goes to play with one. I have known it where having toys out has actually helped provide a distraction for the two new dogs but for the majority of situations I think it would be best to remove the bits that may cause friction.

Fourthly, do not feed them together, always feed dogs separately. Dogs can get on fine, until you introduce a high value resource (food or a faveourite toy) and all hell breaks loose. I never feed any of mine together because I don’t see the need to cause a problem.

Lastly, I would encourage all the family to have very little to do with the puppy beyond what is necessary for the first day or so. It gives the puppy time to get used to it’s new surroundings and ensures that the original dog still has the same amount of attention. When a new puppy comes a long, of course, everybody wants to play and cuddle it but this may make the original dog feel jealous or sidelined which could cause them to react to puppy negatively.

I may also consider using crate training for a puppy, that way they don’t bother the original dog during the night and you can supervise their time together to ensure it is positive.

That’s all I can think of right now. If you’re looking for a food I can wholeheartedly recommend Millie’s Wolfheart. It’s wonderful stuff. Failing that I would feed orijin or wolf tucker if you fancy feeding raw.

Congratulations on your puppy!

I think it depends on your dog. Our border terrier was 1 when we brought home our second BT pup so similar ages. Our oldest is the most dog friendliest dog (we got dd2 as a much needed companion). We brought pup straight home and introduced them calmly with our oldest on his lead incase he got to excited. Pup was a bit unsure at first but within an hour they were cuddled up together and have been inseparable ever since. Our oldest has treated her like his baby since the day she come home. I know there can be a lot more to it when introducing a new dog but we really didn't have a problem. I think the small age gap and uber friendliness of our oldest really helped.

Although now I think back we did take a blanket through to the breeder with our cat and dogs scent on it and vice versa so that might have helped.

BT's are great aren't they. Current bt is our second one, so we thought we should try a different breed. Although two bt's always seem so good together.
I love the photo of your older one with his 'arm' over the pup!

Unfortunately we live a long way away from new puppy so are not able to visit him with a blanket.

Thanks whatdo… for that advice. I've read loads on google, but really good to here real life practical advice. I didn't think you were supposed to take a new puppy on walks out before all the injections are done?

i have no experience of terriers, but with a new pup we would try and do introductions in the garden, we puppy walk for guide dogs and have had a lot of babies in the house

Our home dogs were both failed Guide dogs and both GSDs who took their foster Uncle duties very seriously

So it would be every one out in the garden and pup on the ground to get sniffed, bowled over, pinned down licked clean, sniffed and and plenty of praise for the BigBoys, one of them was a much better "guardian" than the other

Then after about 15 minutes they would get fed up or the pup would be a bit overwhelmed so we'd all troop in and let the BigBoys settle down and then we'd just keep an eye on the pup, watching all interactions, making sure it was on BigBoy terms, minimal puppy harrassing allowed

Feeding separately is a good thing, plus pups are on multiple meals a day so it makes sense.

You'll probably find the older dog puts up with quite a lot, and will indulge the pup quite a bit, but in a couple of weeks, the pup will get a well deserved telling off from the older dog for some perceived slight and will be reminded of its manners.

Let them sort themselves out, try not to get involved in any disputes that might cause jealousy.

We never bothered with keeping toys safe, but generally neither of ours were possessive about anything so it really wouldn't have made anything better or worse.

No tips but Good Luck with the Sprocker.
Ours will be 2 in May and he is still absolutely crazy.
It doesn't matter how many hours of walking and playing he has, he is never tired.

No advice - our ten stone rotty tried to climb up the back of our sofa away from our Lurcher puppy!!
They are very close now though!!