Help the dogs bond
Wondering how to get my older dog to accept the new puppy?
A terrific way to help your dogs bond is to walk them together. If they are similar in size, you can use a leash coupler when you walk.
By demonstrating your leadership skills, you instill in both dogs the importance of listening to and following you.
Now both dogs have something in common; both see you as the boss.
Let your older dog see good things happen when the puppy is around.
Give both dogs lots of treats and tons of praise for staying calm.
Get a separate food bowl, bed and set of toys for your new puppy
Puppies love to take toys and other objects that your adult dog may greatly value. You can help prevent these situations by getting your new puppy a separate set of toys and discourage it from poaching from your adult dog.
To do this, just say “no” and redirect the puppy to another activity, while returning the toy to your adult dog. This will help reinforce that they are still at the head of the pack.
Offer breaks to prevent your dogs from getting overwhelmed
A good way to help your dogs get used to each other is to offer plenty of alone time to calm down and take a break from one another.
When you notice your pup getting out of control or your older dog starting to get annoyed, offer a break in a crate or a separate room to either dog.
This is especially helpful for the adult dog, who may be overwhelmed by the energetic puppy, but it’s also beneficial for the puppy to rest and have a chance to wind down.
Even with routine breaks, you should still give an exit strategy to either of the dogs in the initial weeks of introduction. This is to help them seek out alone time or disengage from play when needed.
Avoid spaces where the dogs can feel cornered or trapped by the other – especially if there are signs of friction or aggression.
Some dogs get along inherently, while others never come to an agreement. It’s very important to supervise your dogs when they’re getting acquainted and that you’re prepared to intervene in case one of them crosses the line.
Keep in mind, a certain amount of growling is normal, but if you suspect one of the dogs might become aggressive or possibly hurt the other, you should focus on obedience training before going forward.
Signs that you should intervene include:
Any of these instances should be met with immediate intervention and obedience training. In some cases, certain adult dogs just will not tolerate a puppy and you may need to reconsider the addition.
Bringing a new puppy home to an older dog?
Introducing a new puppy to an older dog is not a simple task. Just having the puppy trot into the home and letting the two meet and greet (while keeping fingers crossed) wont usually work. A proper introduction takes time and finesse, but its ultimately worthy if you want to heighten the chances for success and make the whole process smoother.
Lets face it: Getting a new puppy is often a very exciting time, and its easy to forget that our resident dogs may not be as excited as we are. We often assume that dogs are social animals, and as such, we expect them to accept any other dogs into the home as readily as we do.
Perhaps we may have also dreamed of a new puppy rejuvenating our older dog and bringing more spark into his life. Not so fast…
As a dog owner, its important to understand how your resident dog may truly feel about your newest addition. Youll need to also pay close attention to your dogs body language and consider the risks associated with suppressing your dogs means of communication.
There are several tricks of the trade to help introductions go a little smoother. Scent, for example, is a key element that can be beneficial for a good intro and equally important is providing boundaries and safe zones to prevent your older dog from getting too overwhelmed during the acclimatization process.
If you havent yet gotten your new puppy, you may also find it helpful to learn what are the best combinations for older dogs and puppies. And in some cases, you may need to carefully evaluate whether perhaps your dog is just too old and is better off being granted a peaceful retirement with no obnoxious puppies in it.
Advanced planning is therefore a must if you want to minimize hard feelings and the chances for squabbles.