Introducing new puppy to our dog

[JessieEssex]

Hi all, we have a 7 year old Border / JRT / other bits and bobs cross, and she really. is the perfect dog - chilled, friendly, well behaved (mostly!) and great fun. We have decided to add a puppy into the mix... Our Border / Norfolk cross will be joining us in 10 days!
I'd love to hear any tips you have about introducing a puppy to an older dog. I'm desperate to get it right and have read up on it but I'm starting to panic as there is so much emphasis on getting that very first meeting right. As a pathological overthinker I need reassurance it's going to be ok
(Pic of my gorgeous girl attached)

Anyone? 😊

Watching with interest 🕵️‍♀️

Depends on your existing dog.

If your existing dog is happy with most other dogs usually the initial meet and greet is ok.

Make sure the existing dog has time away from the new puppy and do be ready to intervene if the play gets to rough and hectic.

If your dog has issues or is reactive you will have to take a slower calmer approach.

How is your existing dog with other dogs?

@forumsempronii thanks for your reply - she's generally good with other dogs - not keen on bouncy big dogs but prefers the 'ignore and walk past' option than being reactive. Seems very tolerant of the puppies that we've met over the years - even the ones that are already bigger than her!
I'm keen to make sure she doesn't feel usurped - lots of love and attention away from the puppy I presume?

Just make sure your existing dog can have some down time and chill time.

You will probably be walking them separately to start with and this is good for both dogs.

Encouraging calm at home between the dogs is a good call - mine can play in the garden but sitting room is a chill and relax place.

Hopefully it will all go smootlhy but depending on the dogs it may be worth having some gates between rooms so the dogs can see each other but have time apart. Again though depends on the dogs.

Just going through this myself:

Ddog is a small (Iggy/Chihuahua cross) who is the most chilled little man, at 5 years old. As yours is fine with puppies out and about but isn't keen on big dogs.

DPup is a 9 week old samoyed, so already the same size!

Initial meeting was outside and went well. Ddog generally stays out of the way on the sofa when pup is being a bit bitey. They are slowly learning to play together and interacting more. Pup tends to steal food, which is the biggest issue so far.

I also make sure that Ddog is walked on his own, as it's his favourite thing with me. I do take pup sometimes, but Ddogs enthusiasm is noticably lesser when the pup is there. Plenty of one on one time with him. Pup is very independent already though and takes himself off which gives us time alone.

I love our second dog, but it was a really bad idea to get another. Our first was just like your OP and the darling of our family. From the off she was furious whenever I petted the little one. She would stomp out of the room glaring over her shoulder at me and staring with deep betrayal. It was really like she couldn’t bear to see me petting him instead of her.

2 years on and they are a bit friendlier, but I still have to be careful giving attention to the boy or she comes running over.He is lovely -a daft, quirky boy who is great fun. They argue sometimes about things but neither has ever hurt the other. The boy spend time grooming her, which she seems to like.

The younger boy is a bit too ‘playful” sometimes and a bully other times, I genuinely believe she would have been happier as the only dog.They only tolerate each other most of the time.

We introduce puppies on neutral ground first - somewhere that sees either no dogs, or only vaccinated ones - we used a friend's garden last time.

IME, a dog-social dog will happily accept a puppy. Previously we had a dog who wasn't the biggest fan of other dogs, but he did accept the (super confident) puppy even if he never adored her, and she did wonders for his confidence. When super-confident ex-puppy was introduced to the next puppy, she bonded with her instantly and they have been best buddies ever since.

Update - we've had the puppy for 10 days now and despite a rocky start this is now how they sleep in the day

Aww how gorgeous 😍

Oh my gosh, how beautiful! Congratulations!

How was the initial meeting and first few days? I'm thinking of adding a second.

@Adultchildofelderlyparents to be honest the initial meeting and first few days weren't great at all and I was worried that we'd got it all wrong and it wouldn't work. But we persevered, gave ddog1 her own space and let them sort it out - on Monday they had their first play fight which went on for ages and now they curl up together. DDog1 still isn't mad on the puppy when she's in full on nippy mad mode but when she's calm or sleepy it's completely fine. That gives me great hope for a good future relationship! I also think that once we can take them on walks together that will really help to bond them.