American Kennel Club
Dear Dr. Burch,
We have an 11-year old pit bull/heeler mix and a small three-year-old mixed breed. I'd like to adopt a Doberman pinscher puppy -- I've had two in the past and I love the breed. We are an older couple and this will probably be our last dog. Is it fair to our older dog to bring in a puppy? Am I being selfish? I am retired and have a lot of time on my hands, but I worry that our big dog might get depressed if I bring in another big dog. I don't want our dogs to think that they are being replaced.
Dr. Burch Says: This is a situation that could turn out fine or it could be a real mess. First, you mention that you will be adding a puppy to your home. In many ways, this makes it easier for older dogs to adapt. The key is making sure you aren't so caught up with a new puppy that the older dogs no longer receive attention. Ask yourself if you will have the time for the new pup as well as to provide play time, walks, and special individual time minus the puppy for the two older dogs. Since you are retired, this may not be a problem.
The Doberman won't be a puppy forever. He or she will soon get bigger. Dobes are working dogs. They are active and need a lot of activity and training. You'll want to think about if you are prepared for this level of activity. Finally, even though you have a big dog to show the pup the ropes, the person raising the puppy will be you. We suggest that all puppies have some basic training. The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program is a great place to start. You and your puppy can earn a gold Olympics style medal and have a lot of fun.
Do you have an animal behavior question for Dr. Burch? E-mail your questions to mary@pawnation.com.
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Never again, we had our Wheaton who was 13yrs went and purchased a Kerry Blue pup. Made it our quest to be certain the older dog wasn't put on the back burners so to speak. His attention remained the same as we introduced the new pup to him. He took all of his toy's and put them behind the couch infact he even took the puppies toy's there too. We continued giving equal attention to both. Then he starting snapping at the puppy. Bottom line a fight broke out, I picked up the puppy to protect him. It was a real mess, had to keep them apart pretty much until the older dog past away. I will never again bring in a puppy with an older dog. I guess if you are a professional handler/breeder it works out better. But for the average stay at home folks, my suggestion don't do it and wait.
I have an about 1 1/2 y.o Pug that we found in the middle of a busy road. We have her now about 6 months. We love to play we her but she continuously nips and bites. We do not know where she was before we found her, but the biting is very taxing on all.
We bought a Bernese pup home. He loved to chew on and bite. We found that if you put more of your hand onto his mouth than he feels comfortable with that the biting stops. If the action is not pleasurable to the pup they stop the action.
This article's timing is right in line with what's going on at our house right now! My hubby and I work from home and have 4 dogs...We have 2 Mini Doxie's: One is 13 yrs old, the other is 6 yrs old. We also have 2 Shiba Inu's: One is 4 yrs old, the other is 3 yrs old. 2 months ago, we bought a 4 month old Sharpei puppy. The key to a successful introduction is to ALWAYS introduce the new puppy outside in the yard. Allow the new puppy to explore his/her new backyard first, then, one by one, let your older dog (s) outside to meet the puppy. Always keep the puppy on a leash near your side at all times. Let the dogs sniff each other as much as they want. It's important to spend a good amount of time doing this - like 30 minutes to 45 minutes, before taking them all inside. You will find that your dogs get along much better when they are outside. Do not allow the new puppy to bite or jump on your older dog for the first couple of days until you are sure that your older dog (s) will tolerate it. Practice consistant dicipline with the new puppy in not allowing it to harass the older dogs. All of our older dogs have always responded well to a new puppy because we make sure to give them extra attention and praise consistantly. Sometimes it could take anywhere from 1 month to 3 or 4 months before you see the older dogs accept the new puppy. Patience is the key - don't give up! Hope this helps. Good luck!
I have heard that you always introduce strange or new dogs to each other on neutral territory. So you take them both to a public park on leashes. your own back yard isnt neutral enough.
To Marilyn - I am no expert on training dogs, however, I had a puppy once that did the same thing (nipping and biting at our hands and legs and feet) Ceasar Milan has a good book out there about training your new puppy not to do this. He says to ignore your puppy when she displays that kind of behavior. Give her a time-out, such as putting her into another room away from you where she can't see you. Do not even yell at her when she does it - just walk away from her. If she follows you (which she probably WILL) that's when you place her in another room away from all attention. She needs to learn that by biting and nipping, she will be a very lonely doggie. Praise her when she behaves, ignore and separate her when she's bad. Good behavior will get her the attention she is craving, bad behavior will result in being ignored with no attention. Again, have patience, because this could take up to 2 weeks to work, but I promise you, it will work!
Marilyn - I am no expert on training dogs, however, I had a puppy once that did the same thing (nipping and biting at our hands and legs and feet) Ceasar Milan has a good book out there about training your new puppy not to do this. He says to ignore your puppy when she displays that kind of behavior. Give her a time-out, such as putting her into another room away from you where she can't see you. Do not even yell at her when she does it - just walk away from her. If she follows you (which she probably WILL) that's when you place her in another room away from all attention. She needs to learn that by biting and nipping, she will be a very lonely doggie. Praise her when she behaves, ignore and separate her when she's bad. Good behavior will get her the attention she is craving, bad behavior will result in being ignored with no attention. Again, have patience, because this could take up to 2 weeks to work, but I promise you, it will work!
You sure have too much time on your hands and certainly are talking more about yourself, than your dogs. For crying out loud, dogs are dogs and not human. First, you should not have your dogs living inside with you, your home stinks, your furniture stink and you probably stink, too. Second, humans are the only idiots that do not protect the offsprings, dogs do it just fine. If you bring a puppy to an old dog, the old one will take the puppy in its hands, train it and protect it, as it should be. All what dogs need is to be taking care off, enough food and some attention...and, please, stop overfeeding your dogs and rewarding them with edible treats: obesity in dogs is just as bad as in humans.
For the record, I have the most beautiful, playful, loving and gentle golden retreiver mixed that you can imagine.
Pelolon what's the purpose in having a pet like a dog? Why don't you have a cow or a pig. THOSE animals are usually kept outside. Your poor dog living alone out in the elements is not fair. The only reason it stinks is because you are too ignorant to take proper care of it. I've owned 3 dogs and NONE of them smelled. Golden's are the sweetest gentlest dogs! HOW COULD YOU!!
Not a very helpful reply--firstly, not all dogs can live outside all the time--I actually think that's cruel. I have dachshunds--they wouldnt survive the night outside. Smell? It's called a once a week bath for the dogs and vigilant cleaning/vacuuming. I think that's why they call dogs a responsibility and not an accessory.
I'm with you on the overfeeding though.
my dog smells better than most people. I like most dogs better than most people.
pelolon, whoever u are, u stink! I really feel sorry for your poor dog, stuck with a miserable human such as yourself!
Wild email! You have guts! Most dog lovers won't most agree with you, and you probably are in the huge minority of offering these types of comments. However, having written this, I agree with the statements that older dogs will help train and take care of young pups, to some extent, and that obesity in dogs has become an enormous and unnecessary issue, not to mention the health problems that this compromises. Good luck to you!
PELOLON = A FIRST CLASS UNFEELING MORON !!
IF YOU HAVE PETS.... GOD HELP THEM
I would like to add a comment on introducing a new pup to an older dog in your home... IF you think like a wolf, you know that the the Alpha in the pack is the one to protect the pack from outside influences... IF the new pup is a beta, The alpha may accept it... However if the new pup has alpha tendencies, the old alpha May threaten it, and try to show it .. that It has dominance in this pack. IF the new pup try's to fight back or doesnt go submissive.. It may never be accepted or it may be accepted but thier will always be constant turmoil...
I do not want to make anyone scared to adopt a new pup, However truely look at it from a wolf pac instinct... It may save you some heartacke, and may save the new pup from injury, and will maybe help your older dog to accept new pac member.
May God our father bless each animal in this world with love, Health, Nutrition,& Humanbeings that truely care.
AMen, Amen
Introducing a new pet to those already in the family can be done successfully w/o trauma to either,, it just takes a little forethought, time and patience on the owner's part. Be prepared for retaliatory behavior and jealousy..plan for it but the best success comes when the original animals realize nothing has really changed, that you still love them just as much as before the "interloper" arrived...
I agree with CarrieCoyote. I have a very alpha 5 year old female rescue and came across a very beta 7 month old male when dropping off a donation at a shelter. I gave a lot of consideration to bringing another dog into our home and brought my female to the shelter three times for "introductions" to the male before bringing him home. As the ultimate "alpha" in the house, I was vigilant in monitoring the dogs together as I knew it would only be a matter of time before my female felt the need to dominate our new family member and my actions would set the tone for our remaining time together. Sure enough, my female went after the male in a very aggressive manner and I immediately separated them and made it clear to my female (by the tone in my voice and "ignoring" her for a few hours after) that her actions were unacceptable. Long story short, I think respecting and working with the inherent character of your dogs and being vigilant about interactions until the pecking order is established will help bring about acceptance and a peaceful home for ALL dogs and humans.
Dog barking... I have 2 beagles and a puggle mix ... oh my god the barking when I get home is ear piercing...I love my babies to death, but is there something I can do ( other than the bark collars) to get them to stop... I know that they are happy to see me and I adore that they bark to see me.. but they keep on and only after I yell will the stop.... the one dog Max is now 5 and he does this everyday.. even if I leave the house for 5 minutes.
Now Max I've not said a word to or petted until he stops barking it seems to work sometimes ... can't take much more of the barking HELP
I have a pretty old dog who we've had for about 3 years. Even when he was a puppy, he never did play much.Hewas more chill out and sleep kond of dog. After several months of trying to teach him tricks and fetch he still wouldn't learn. About two months ago we got this new blue heeler/pit bull mix.We have to keep him in the house because of the extremly low temps. But when we put him outside, he tries to play with our other dog. By our other dog refusing to play, he tries to nip at him. How can we make our super relaxed older dog able to get along with our hyper new puppy. Help ASAP!!!!!
It depends on the dog , i recently introduced a german shepherd puppy(f) to an 8 yr old german shepherd (m) , he took her in as his daughter and showed her everything !!!!!!!!!!!