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  1. #1
    House Broken sandyut's Avatar
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    New puppy addition questions

    HI all,

    Kona (yellow male) should be about 1.5 years old when we get a new 8 week old yellow male - if things go as sortta planned. Any concerns or tips we should consider?

    We got Kona at 12 weeks and Jack (RIP) was 10. they got along great, but never played rough or any of that mostly because jack was older and didnt seem into it at all. Kona play hard with our neighbors dog so he knows how to manage that.

    thanks for any input and or suggestions.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Other than I think you're nuts?

    I guess it depends on your current dog's temperament. Is he rough? Playful? Quiet? Does he love dogs? Puppies?

    I find that the typical 1.5 year old male Lab is still a little rough and you have to protect the baby. Even as that baby grows, because it's a Lab, it's not likely to correct your boy for ramming into him like another breed might. I would say that you need to intervene BEFORE things get crazy. Once things are already crazy, it's often too late and then things can get nuts, too rough, the puppy can get scared, etc. So, find a way to do that now. Whether it's having the big dog drag a leash and then grabbing it when things look like they might get to be too much, clapping or even saying something like, "HEY! LET'S GO GET SOME COOKIES!" which works for my boys when things are about to get over the top. It just stops them in their tracks and allows them to settle. I do it mostly when we are playing with other people's dogs because most of my friends do not have Labs or particularly physical dogs and are understandably concerned about my big, physical Lab boys hurting their dogs on accident. I understand their concern because I have seen them body-check smaller, less physical dogs (like 40-60 lbs) and those dogs go rolling.

    Find a way to keep them separated because you'll have to protect the baby unless you are supervising. Baby gates or x-pen panels work well. Also, if your big dog doesn't like puppies, you'll have to separate more. I am not looking forward to the day that I bring a puppy home because Linus does not like them. He likes older puppies and young dogs just fine, but he thinks puppies are from the devil. I won't make him love the puppy and I won't put either of them in a situation where the puppy gets to be all over him and I make him stay or tolerate it. My puppy, my problem! Linus will always have an out. He didn't ask for a puppy. It's going to be a rough four to six months for me.

    Feed one of them in a crate so the big dog is not taking puppy's food and vice versa.

    Do things with them separately.

    I would start saving some money, too, because they are so close in age that you're going to have a lot of the same issues at the same time to pay for over the next 15ish years.

  3. #3
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    My girl Sophie was 2 1/2 years old when Bruce arrived. Things did work out, but with Sophie being so young, it was almost like having two puppies at the same time. I honestly wasn't ready for a puppy when I got Bruce, but I liked the mating so much I took the plunge. Sadly I lost Bruce when he was only 21 months old. Sophie was 4 1/2 when I got Brooks. Brooks was/is a bit of a handful, and while he initiates 90% of the play with Sophie, she still will initiate it, and very much enjoys kicking the crap out of Brooks when she's had enough of him.


    I think you need to take into consideration the overall temperament of both Kona and the new puppy. Brooks is 15 months old, with a lot of energy and high drive, he also tends to play very rough. There is no way I'd bring a puppy in until Brooks is much more mature.

    The other concern, as Labradors pointed out, is the expenses you could face as the dogs age together. Older dogs health issues can get pretty costly really quick.

  4. #4
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    Got same problem myself about to happen - my youngest is a very brash,pushy, rough two year old dog, who doesn't know his own strength (or possibly he does but really doesn't care! lol) I'm having to toughen up on the "I said that's enough" conversations in preparation for shortly arriving next pup!

  5. #5
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    Mine was a brash, pushy 2 year old when we got Bear. He turned into a soft mushy nanny. We called him Mommy Mav. He adores Bear and lets him do whatever he wants. Fast forward to now, Bear is one. He's pushy and won't leave Maverick alone. Maverick does not correct.

    My advice is to not let baby get away with everything. Kona may be great with him, but may not know how to correct inappropriate behavior in a baby since he is so young himself.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Meeps83 View Post
    Mine was a brash, pushy 2 year old when we got Bear. He turned into a soft mushy nanny. We called him Mommy Mav. He adores Bear and lets him do whatever he wants. Fast forward to now, Bear is one. He's pushy and won't leave Maverick alone. Maverick does not correct.

    My advice is to not let baby get away with everything. Kona may be great with him, but may not know how to correct inappropriate behavior in a baby since he is so young himself.
    Oh that's given me hope, even though the idea of my lunatic even calming down never mind being gentle with a baby is currently unimaginable!!

  7. #7
    House Broken sandyut's Avatar
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    thanks for the tips! Kona is super mellow and gentle. he does well with other people puppies and smaller dogs. But i could see him getting pretty spun up in a play session. many thanks!

  8. #8
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    It only takes a second for a bad accident to happen, in the blink of an eye, and once the puppy is injured, you can't take it back. I warn people that they will hate me, and have puppy buyers remorse in a week or two, through housebreaking, around 6-7 months, it is more than twice the work for a while LOL

    I usually request at least 2 years between dogs for my puppy families, so that the older dog has a routine, training and maturity under their belt before being expected to appropriate with an 8 week old puppy. Girls are usually ready before the boys, for some reason, maybe they mentally mature faster like humans. :-)

    I would closely supervise, as in not allowing them to run free willy nilly outside together, until the puppy has some weight and growth on him. My puppies are 17 weeks old, and I allow them to wrestle with 16 month old Friday now, and they are big puppies, and Friday is very mature and reasonable for her age.

    Just be careful, take it slow, and watch the baby. Good luck and have fun!

  9. #9
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    I picked up Zeke at the airport at the end of June (he was 9 weeks old) and brought him home to Takoda who is 4.5(intact male). Takoda is super mellow and took to the pup right away.

    The first 12 hours however he was constantly trying to hump him he was so excited but that wore off soon. Takoda is a very melllow and laid back guy and has been super good with the puppy. In fact I think at times he is a bit too tolerant and is not very good at correcting the pup for rude behavior.

    That said even with how great they get along they still do not have unsupervised play. Zeke is now about 32 lbs, Takoda is 63lbs and Zeke is starting to get even more rambunctious then before. I plan to continue supervised interactions only for a long time.

    They are only allowed to play crazy in the yard and when it gets too crazy I clap and make them both come to me and sit down. In the house it is bitey face only no chasing/running full speed etc. Takoda has free reign of the house and yard(he has a dog door) but Zeke is crated most of the day when I'm at work and then only out of the crate when I can watch him 100% of the time.

    Zeke just started going on walks because he finished his vaccinations but only short romps around the block. Takoda and I walk through the park for several miles and Zeke stays home. Then I take Zeke out on his own around the block when Takoda is tuckered out. I've walked them around the block a few times together but plan to continue to walk them for the most part separately until Zeke is done with basic obedience.

    One of the hardest challenges I've found is making sure the puppy bonds with me instead of Takoda. He absolutely adores Takoda so it is key that he has lots of alone time with me. Takoda is already my velcro buddy so it is often hard to spend time alone with the pup without Takoda being upset which is why I try to walk him first and then the pup etc.

    However tempting it may be to let them be on their own during the first few years I highly advise you take the 100% supervision route just to ensure you end up with two well mannered dogs who get along great. Once the pup hits those teenage years it will be even more important. They will have a lifetime together so spend the first few years making sure the puppy is bonded to you and trained properly all the while teaching him proper play manners with your older dog and making sure nothing really changes much for the older dog except he has a fun new playmate. If anything you get twice the exercise with two of them which is a bonus!
    Deep Run Traveling "Takoda" (12/05/12)

    Deep Run Easygoing Ezekiel "Zeke" (04/17/17)

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  10. #10
    House Broken sandyut's Avatar
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    Ok so it’s happening. Kai is coming home in two weeks! Kona is so good with other puppies dogs and small dogs should be pretty smooth besides the sleepless nights. We are so happy to have our third yellow male.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 



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