For a lot of families, getting a puppy is one of the most exciting things that can happen. The young pup brings life and energy to the household, and they are always happy to see new people.
But before bringing your new friend home, it’s important that you introduce them properly to your older dog so they can live together in peace. In this blog post, we will discuss how you should introduce your puppy to an older dog!
Table of Contents
Find neutral territory
Introduce the puppy to your older dog on neutral territory like the park, living room, or outdoor yard. Keep your older dog on a leash during introductions so they can’t harass them, and make sure to keep your puppy on their lead as well.
Let the dogs sniff each other at first and establish some ground rules with low-key growling, but don’t let any aggressive behavior go unaddressed! If either of them tries to bite you or another animal/person in the household then that is not going to work out.
These are standoffish behaviors for animals because it sends information about themselves without getting into an actual fight (which would be more violent).
Don’t put food down while introducing these two new friends; this could cause aggression from both parties over who gets access to said food.
Dog Stressed Over New Puppy
Having a new puppy in the household can be a stressful experience for a dog. It has tons of energy, needs lots of training, and is most likely getting all of the attention. A puppy may also pee and poop everywhere, creating new scents that are throwing off your dog’s sense of home.
It’s also common that a puppy will introduce as many as ten times more opportunities to go outside to pee and poop. A dog that is used to going out less often may feel overwhelmed that they’re being taken along to watch every little thing this puppy is doing. Your older dog may feel too mature for such activities.
Dog Hates Your New Puppy
As mentioned above, a new puppy can cause a lot of stress. Your dog may begin to resent your puppy in these times. The truth is, your dog just hasn’t had a chance to settle in with your puppy. Dogs build strong habits and like to get comfortable in their habits.
A puppy may throw off their entire day-to-day life, and changes like this are never pleasant. Your dog will quickly recognize that the puppy is to blame, and may appear to hate him.
Getting Your Dog To Like Your New Puppy
Getting an older dog to like a puppy is a process. You need to make sure his needs are always met while maintaining the needs of the puppy. Make sure your dog gets lots of praise and equal attention. Include your dog in the bonding process by allowing him to lead by example.
If you’re teaching your puppy to sit, let your existing dog show the puppy how it’s done. It’s a great confidence booster for your dog and he will feel proud to show off that he knows what he’s doing. The puppy will learn from him and mimic his behaviors. Your older dog will soon feel like a mentor to the puppy. Before long, your older dog will be correcting your puppy.
The main focus of doing these kinds of activities is to make sure your older dog isn’t feeling jealous of the puppy. Rather, you should both be bonding with the puppy in your own way. One easy way to get your dog to enjoy the new puppy is to shower him with praise or even update his current comfort situation. Whether you provide him with a new dog bed or a brightly colored toy, you should let your dog know he isn’t forgotten.
Old Dog Scared Of New Puppy
It’s also common for your old dog to be a little bit scared of seeing a new puppy in the house. He may feel inadequate and less loved. Some dogs, especially in their later years prefer to relax and enjoy a quiet home. A new puppy will stir things up by barking, running, jumping, and biting.
In times like these, you need to focus on your older dog’s feelings and keep him in the loop about what’s going on. Sometimes a puppy just won’t leave your older dog alone. He is excited and full of energy while your older dog may just want to lay down. Your older dog may end up just hiding from your new puppy to get a bit of a mental break.
Old Dog Biting New Puppy
Dogs speak their own language, especially during play. It’s common for dogs to be nipping at each other, sometimes aggressively. There is a clear difference between biting and play biting. You can usually tell if your dog is aggressive if his hair is raised on his back.
While playing biting, dogs will usually growl at each other. A serious attempt to injure another dog sounds frightening and full of heavy breathing. A playful growl is usually more slowly drawn out and sounds a little bit like a whine.
How Long For Older Dog To Accept Puppy
The time it takes for your older dog to accept your puppy depends on things like environment and personality. It also matters how carefully you introduced the dogs to each other. It will ultimately come down to getting both dogs into a rhythm where they’ve come to understand the mannerisms of your life and theirs.
This means your dogs will know when to expect meal time, walk time, training time, and bedtime. Until this routine is setup, both dogs will be a little anxious and that will make it harder to settle down and respect each other.
medical issues with the older dog
Any medical issues with the older dog can disrupt the introduction to your puppy. If they are recovering from surgery, or have any other injury that could be upset by a hyperactive doggy friend then wait until the older dog’s health has improved before introducing them to one another.
The best way to introduce a puppy is by slowly introducing them to the older dog’s territory. This means the older dog needs to be capable of showing the new dog that it is his territory. Although they may be sharing the space from now on, it is healthy for the older dog to feel like he has welcomed the new dog.
Have your pup sit on one side of the room and let the older dog enter at its own pace, with no pressure from you or anyone else. This will help prevent any rough house play that could result in scratches and other injuries that can become infected if not properly cared for right away.
Once all introductions are made then it should be safe to get both animals involved in playing together so they each know how much space they have when they’re running around.
have plenty of time and patience
Having time and patience means keeping an eye on both dogs to spot any signs that the older dog is feeling uncomfortable and introduce them at a slower pace.
If the puppy acts aggressively, make sure you give him his own space. This will help communicate to your older pup that he does not need to feel threatened by this new arrival. It may take weeks for your pets to get used to each other.
One of their favorite things about being an adult dog is they don’t have much patience when it comes time for introductions with another animal in your home. They’ve been around long enough now where they know what’s expected and are ready for anything!
aggression or Dominating
If you introduce new animals to your home, it’s important that you introduce them in a safe way. When introducing a puppy to an older dog, be sure not to leave them alone together without supervision and make sure that both are getting along.
It may take days or weeks for your dogs to get used to each other but if there is any aggressive behavior or fighting between the two dogs, stop it right away! It is normal for this to happen, but if it is happening, you may have to separate the two and try again another day.
Be sure that your older dog has plenty of space in a private area with some toys or pieces of their favorite food so they feel safe enough for introductions with the puppy.
If any fighting occurs, stop it right away! You are not doing them any favors by allowing this behavior to continue; both dogs will be more stressed out. Your best bet when introducing animals into your home is to introduce new pets slowly and patiently over time while supervising closely at all times until everyone gets used to each other. The key here is patience on your part as an adult owner—don’t rush things and don’t give up too soon.
If you believe your dog is aggressive or reactive, there are many things you can do to calm a reactive dog and become easier to manage during these times.
Let your older dog sniff around
Dogs need to familiarize themselves with each other’s scent in order to feel comfortable with one another, so spend some time letting your older dog sniff around the new pup.
Introduce them slowly and allow for plenty of supervised interaction in controlled environments like a fenced-in backyard or even inside on an area rug while you’re home as they get used to each other’s presence.
Your job is to watch closely for signs that there may be problems brewing between these two animals. If either animal seems stressed or anxious in any way, intervene immediately!
If at any point during this process anything goes wrong—a fight breaks out or things just seem off from what should be happening—stop it right away and rethink your strategy moving forward; if not handled well at first, dogs can become territorial.
time alone to explore separately
Part of feeling comfortable is knowing the space and having a sense of familiarity.
And so if you’ve introduced them to their new home, one at a time with plenty of treats in tow, then give each dog time alone there for exploration; or take them out on different walks together as they get used to exploring outside without running into any issues.
The key is giving both dogs enough time to explore separately—whether it’s inside first or out first, that doesn’t matter. What matters most is getting them comfortable before trying anything else more involved!
Start Slow – Introduce The New Puppy To Your Older Dog Gradually And In A Controlled Environment
New puppy parents often want their furry new addition to meet and become friends with their older dog immediately. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the best course of action. It’s important to take things slow when introducing a new puppy to an older dog, in order to give them both time to adjust and avoid any potential conflict.
The best way to do this is to start with short, controlled meetings in a neutral environment, such as a park or a friend’s house. dogs should be allowed to sniff each other and explore at their own pace, without any forced interaction. If everything goes well, you can gradually increase the length and frequency of the meetings. With a little patience and care, you’ll soon have two happy, putty-loving dogs!
Make Sure Both Dogs Have Plenty Of Toys And Space To Play So They Don’t Feel Threatened By One Another
Dogs are social animals that need companionship, stimulation, and exercise. When bringing a new dog into the home, it’s important to make sure that both dogs have plenty of toys and space to play. This will help them to feel comfortable with one another and prevent any feelings of threat or aggression. Dogs also need time to adjust to changes in their environment, so be patient and give them plenty of time to get used to each other. With a little time and patience, you can help your dogs to form a strong bond that will last a lifetime.
Reward Your Older Dog For Good Behavior Around The New Puppy And Give Them Plenty Of Praise
It’s important to reward your older dog for good behavior around the new puppy. You can give them treats, praise, or even extra playtime. This will help them associate good behavior with positive reinforcement and make it more likely that they’ll continue to behave well around the new addition to the family.
Let them know that you’re happy with their behavior and that you appreciate their efforts to be calm and polite around the puppy. With a little patience and consistency, you can help your older dog adjust to the new puppy and make life in your home a little easier for everyone involved.
