I have a two year old JRT bitch I absolutely adore. Three weeks ago I adopted a ten year old JRT bitch following the sudden death of her owner. I had sometimes walked the two dogs together previously as her owner didn’t keep well so the dogs knew each other.
She has settled well (after an infection!) and my sixteen year old daughter has taken a real shine to her as she is a much more cuddly dog than the 2yo dynamo and quite passive. I am being very careful to not favour one over the other to avoid jealousy and we’ve decided the new dog will sleep in my daughter’s room and the wee one in mine as normal to allow her to keep some territory as hers at present.
This has all been working pretty well but the two year old has snapped at the older girl a couple of times usually over toys/balls but sometimes when the old girl is nuzzling for a pet or scratch. How do I discourage the jealousy/dominance behaviours longer term? I don’t want the naturally bossy wee madam to bully the older dog who has not spent a great deal of time with other dogs so is quite quiet. She also was there when owner died and was very withdrawn initially. Any suggestions welcome.