Is it OK to bring a puppy home to an older dog?
To avoid any territorial behavior or resource guarding, senior dogs and new puppies should first be introduced on neutral ground, rather than in your home or yard. Both dogs need individual time and attention for themselves, away from each other.
Will getting a puppy upset my old dog?
Many older dogs will be upset, jealous, or even angry with a new puppy, especially if the older dog has been an only dog. It’s going to be important to make sure the older dog gets lots (more than normal) of attention to alleviate potential hurt feelings. Feel free to interfere if the puppy is tormenting your old dog.
How does getting a puppy affect an older dog?
Bottom line: Adding a puppy to a household with an older dog frequently causes in-home aggression between the two dogs – primarily because of the age difference. New puppies get all of the attention. Your elder dog might be old, but he is not stupid.
How does an older dog interact with a puppy?
The older dog may or may not bump or hold down the puppy with a paw. The puppy may squeal in surprise and/or run off. If the puppy comes back harder, jumping back up into the adult’s face, your older dog may need to make his point more firmly.
Can you introduce an old dog to a new puppy?
If your older dog isn’t keen on interacting with other dogs you could have your work cut out for you to convince him that the new puppy is a good idea. This doesn’t mean it’s not possible to do…. in fact, sometimes an old dog will surprise you with his acceptance, tolerance, and love for the new arrival.
How old do you have to be to have a puppy?
Time and thought should be employed to try to find the best fit puppy possible. Puppies can also be irritating, especially for older dogs! An 11 or 12 year old dog may not want to be constantly poked and prodded by the exuberance of a pup, an adult dog may be a better fit for older or slower dogs.
Why does an older dog feel threatened by a new puppy?
The presence (breed and size) of the puppy may seem threatening to the older dog. Resident dog treats the puppy as an intruder and this scares him. Dogs are pretty expressive of their feelings. That’s the reason why they always show their parents some signs to indicate how they feel.
What to do when you get a new puppy with an older dog?
Keep the pup on leash. I like to end the walk with a drink and a meal then a nap for the dogs. Do have a crate and a pen set up before you bring the new dog home. Pup goes into her crate. Your old dog sleeps where she normally does. To learn more about this first walk, click here.
Is it OK to bring home an old dog?
If your old dog is suffering from canine dementia, which is a progressive problem (it will continue to get worse), postpone bringing home a puppy as doing so now would be unfair. Some older dogs tend to get fearful as they age. Arthritis and hearing loss, in particular, can cause anxiety.
Where to introduce a new puppy to an adult dog?
Introduce a new puppy to your adult dog in neutral territory, like outside in the garden or even at a park away from the house. You could even let them meet for the first time on opposite sides of a chain-link fence.
Why is my old dog not accepting of my new puppy?
Dog training guru Cesar Millan provides great insight into why your old dog may initially be less-than-accepting of a puppy. Understanding this will help you create harmony between them much more quickly.