New Puppy Question

[dxboon]

I think one of the best things you can do for your existing dog(s) when you bring a new puppy home is to ensure that they have a safe place away from the puppy. Even if the existing canine family members love other dogs, puppies can be super annoying. When I bring home a new puppy he is always crated when I'm not home or actively able to supervise. This is safest for the puppy and best for the existing dogs. If the existing dog wants to lay near the puppy's crate they can choose to do so, but otherwise they are free to exist in the usual areas of the house in which they are allowed. Bringing home a new dog is enough of a disruption for all the pets, so I try to ensure that my older dogs' routines are kept as intact as possible (feeding times, walks, individual training and "mommy & me" time). I also make sure that play time between the dogs and puppy don't reach the point where the puppy is antagonizing the older dogs to excess.

[SamsonsMom]

Putting them together could be dangerous to the puppy for many, many reasons. Definitely do not do that! I typically crate the puppy and leave the adult loose or crate them both in the same room. I typically crate the puppy in a room the other dog is likely to be in or I move the dog bed to the room where the puppy is located, kind of forcing the adult dog to hang out in the puppy's vicinity. Depends on the dogs though!

Thanks. My mind is made up Asher (new puppy) will be crated in the living room. Samson has a bed in the living room as well; however, his favorite place to lay is the sectional end where he can watch out the window. Great advice from all!

[sparky]

Wow! Sounds like you are in the same spot we were in back in September! We have a 3 YO, Mocha and just got a little yellow lab. We have an expen in the kitchen (tile!) and Mocha has the run of the house. He just earned his freedom at 2! After about 2 months Latte found out how to push her pen around the house. We had to anchor the pen. We used tywraps in the sub floor under a floor grate. We too have a wonderful pet sitter.

[SamsonsMom]

Wow! Sounds like you are in the same spot we were in back in September! We have a 3 YO, Mocha and just got a little yellow lab. We have an expen in the kitchen (tile!) and Mocha has the run of the house. He just earned his freedom at 2! After about 2 months Latte found out how to push her pen around the house. We had to anchor the pen. We used tywraps in the sub floor under a floor grate. We too have a wonderful pet sitter.

Awesome! How are the little one and Mocha getting along? Samson had TTA surgery in July so my big fear with puppy in an x pen with Samson out is Samson tries to jump up on the x pen or something like that. I still have a big fear of him hurting his TTA leg or hurting the other. My fear is getting better but I still have crazy paranoid thoughts about all the ways he could potentially hurt himself. I tell myself I just need to relax. I think the crate will do us well until puppy is older and then maybe I'll do the x-pen for him and not have as much fear about Samson jumping up on it.

[sparky]

They are fantastic together. Mocha matches her strength when playing. The play "bitey"face and once with either gets their hair up we step in and call a time out. It has never gotten out of hand but we want to keep it that way. Mocha has snapped at Latte twice when she crossed the line but it was only enough to let her know she overstepped her boundries.
Latte sleeps in a kennel at night and we have kept her in the expen since day one. We left a water bowl in with her for a few days but that turned into a wet mess. That's why we put her in the kitchen with the tile floor!
Mocha is helping with her training. One thing you'll need to practice from day one is be specific with your commands. As in Mocha, sit, Latte, sit. We found when we were trying to teach Latte to sit, stay, shake... Mocha thought we were talking to him and would do all the commands. We also have training time one on one. Good luck and post lots of pictures!


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[Meeps83]

And also.......watch the food bowls. Our pup will steal Mavericks food in a second. I always do Mav first. He eats first, he kennels first, he gets treats first. And I second keeping an eye on playing. In all likelihood they will be great, but it helps instill good habits in your pup on how to act with other dogs they play with.


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[SamsonsMom]

And also.......watch the food bowls. Our pup will steal Mavericks food in a second. I always do Mav first. He eats first, he kennels first, he gets treats first. And I second keeping an eye on playing. In all likelihood they will be great, but it helps instill good habits in your pup on how to act with other dogs they play with.

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I've already thought about the feedings. Samson is 100% food focused. LOL I will keep him on schedule and feed the puppy after him and in a different location.

[SamsonsMom]

They are fantastic together. Mocha matches her strength when playing. The play "bitey"face and once with either gets their hair up we step in and call a time out. It has never gotten out of hand but we want to keep it that way. Mocha has snapped at Latte twice when she crossed the line but it was only enough to let her know she overstepped her boundries.
Latte sleeps in a kennel at night and we have kept her in the expen since day one. We left a water bowl in with her for a few days but that turned into a wet mess. That's why we put her in the kitchen with the tile floor!
Mocha is helping with her training. One thing you'll need to practice from day one is be specific with your commands. As in Mocha, sit, Latte, sit. We found when we were trying to teach Latte to sit, stay, shake... Mocha thought we were talking to him and would do all the commands. We also have training time one on one. Good luck and post lots of pictures!


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You have described how I am imagining them together a bit later. Samson sleeps on the bed. I have another crate that I can bring up for Asher to sleep in. I prefer not to leave him downstairs so I think I'll grab the smaller crate (Large size I believe) down in the basement and put it in my bedroom. I'm curious to see if Samson chooses to sleep on the floor beside him or still up on the bed with me! At least he will have a choice.

I'm sure I will confuse Samson but I will try to keep in mind to be specific with commands. Samson is always eager to please.

[Annette47]

I've already thought about the feedings. Samson is 100% food focused. LOL I will keep him on schedule and feed the puppy after him and in a different location.

We feed the pups (when we have one) at the same time as the older dogs, but we put the older dogs food down first. They all eat in the kitchen but separated by a few feet. We’ve never had an older dog who didn’t eat their food at one sitting, relatively quickly. If the pups happen to finish first, we make sure they leave the older dog alone, but it’s never been more than a 20 second difference at most, LOL.

[sparky]

And also.......watch the food bowls. Our pup will steal Mavericks food in a second. I always do Mav first. He eats first, he kennels first, he gets treats first. And I second keeping an eye on playing. In all likelihood they will be great, but it helps instill good habits in your pup on how to act with other dogs they play with.


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Yes.We feed Latte in her pen and let Mocha eat in peace.