New Puppy Intro to Current Dogs

[HeidiCaccamise]

I have a 2 year old golden and a 9 year old shepherd/pit mix , Frisbee, with fear aggression issues.  I am about to bring home a new golden puppy, Baylee, because our 2 year old, Biscuit, wants to play more than Frisbee is able to keep up.  Frisbee has only a small circle of humans he is comfortable with and has only been around a small amount of other dogs.  He did great when we brought Biscuit home and I was careful to keep Biscuit on a leash and with me until I felt totally comfortable that they were bonded.  What do you suggest would be the best way to introduce both to the new puppy?  I am not worried about Biscuit so much and thought I would intro her first in a neutral place so Frisbee could see them meet and perhaps follow that lead.  Would keep all on leashes and even thinking of using a muzzle on Frisbee initially.  I appreciate any advice you might have. 

[Adrienne]

Hi there!

Welcome to the forums,

Adding a third dog can be stressful, but I like your plans and your willingness to make this introduction gradual and take steps to lower the stress associated with adding a new dog to the household. You are on the right path on introducing them on neutral grounds and using caution. Other things that come to mind: 

-When introducing in neutral grounds consider that depending on the age of your pup, your puppy may have not finished yet his vaccinations. Consult with the breeder what vaccines were given and then talk to your vet on how to plan carefully the location. Normally, dogs should meet on a walk or at a park (each dog one handler who can feed tasty treats to the adult dogs upon seeing the puppy), but with young puppies this option isn't feasible due to the risks of infectious diseases in young puppies who haven't finished their series of shots. Suitable meeting grounds for young puppies may include the breeder's home (ask prior on how you can organize this), the shelter where the puppy is kept if you are rescuing, or a friend's home (with no history of owning sick puppies in the past year) with a large fenced yard. Check with your vet to play it safe.

--It is best to begin all "acquaintances" through scent before the dogs visually see each other. So if the puppy is still at the breeder or at the shelter, it helps to bring home a blanket that has the puppy's scent and let your dog get used to it. At the same time, the puppy can be provided with a blanket that has your older dogs' scent on it.

-Once home, you want to keep the puppy and older dog/dogs in separate areas for a good part of the day. This is for safety and for the sake of allowing gradual acclimatization. 

-Older dogs may no longer be interested in engaging in rambunctious play as they used to in the past. Some older dogs may even suffer from orthopedic problems, and the last thing they want to endure is being pestered by a puppy with poor social skills and too much energy. It's important therefore for the older dog to have a "safe zone" to retreat to without being constantly pestered by an energetic puppy. 

-You mention your dog is fear aggressive, is this towards people, other dogs? Both? In this case, we need to tread with caution. Things can get particularly stressful for older dogs who haven't been socialized much with puppies in the past or who simply haven't been around puppies for quite some time. Hence, the importance of playing it safe and establishing some boundaries.

-Boundary-wise, there are several options. You can use a baby gate, x-pen, or a room to allow safe separation and allow your resident dog time to relax and unwind from the overstimulation. Depending on several factors, these may be temporary or permanent solutions.It is wise to erect baby gates and x-pens several days prior to the puppy's arrival so that your dogs don't get upset from all these sudden changes. 

-Expect your younger dog to whine frequently because he may want to play with your puppy and vice-versa and your older dog getting worried when the pup and your younger dog play. Watch for signs of stress. It may be best to let your younger dog and puppy play outside in your yard (if you have one) so to not upset your older dog. 

-During the introductory period, it's important to minimize the chances for squabbles. This means keeping toys out of the way, feeding dogs at a distance/separate areas, not allowing the puppy to steal your older dogs' favorite sleeping spots, not giving attention to the puppy when your other dogs can see or hear all the fuss.This is because we don't want to add more stress to an already stressful situation and cause the puppy to assume negative connotations: "Not only is this puppy invading my home but he is also trying to steal my toys and is getting more attention than me!" Not good. 

- It’s quite normal for an adult dog to “put the puppy in his place,” when the pup engages in some rude behaviors. Puppies are socially illiterate and often learn better social etiquette from adult dogs. These adult dog "lectures" should be mostly ritualized (more noise than anything) and shouldn't traumatize the puppy. Although adult dogs often grant puppies a "puppy license" it's important to be wary of older dogs who are intolerant and stressed by rowdy puppy behaviors. Because it may be challenging at times to tell if the older dog is really engaging in harmless discipline or if there is something more serious going on, the intervention of a behavior specialist may be required.

-Some time is needed for the older dog to habituate to the new puppy. Each dog is different, and therefore it's best to work at the dog's pace. Generally, it takes more time for older dogs to acclimate to young puppies compared to adult or younger dogs. It may take weeks or even months for both dogs to be comfortable around each other. Make sure you maintain your older dog’s regular routine.

-If your older dog appears tense or has a history of anxiety with changes, it may be a good idea to invest in some calming aids such as DAP collar or DAP diffusers and Rescue Remedy. These products work best if introduced days prior to the new puppy's arrival so that they have time to become effective. Relaxing music such as Through Dog's Ear can help too.

- Keeping distance and feeding your older dog treats or kibble (if he likes it a lot) every time he hears the puppy move or vocalize when behind the baby gate or other barrier may speed up the acclimatization process as he associates the puppy with good things. Here are some reads on desensitization and counterconditioning:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/desensitization/

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/counterconditioning/

-The very first days may feel hectic with the dogs adjusting to each other and a new puppy to potty train (hopefully you have some help!), but as the days go by, you should notice less tension among the dogs. If your older dog initially showed signs of stress such as growling when the puppy moved or vocalized, these episodes should be reducing with time.

-In general, it may take around 4 to 8 weeks for resident dogs to get used to the change associated with a new addition, but it can take up to 6 to 9 months for dogs to bond or at least feel comfortable around each other. Always monitor all interactions and gauge your dogs' body language looking for signs of stress.

-As seen, there are several strategies that can help pave the path towards smoother introductions, but it's best to be prepared for the worst case scenario. If at any time you notice worrisome signs or your older dog is getting more stressed rather than less, consult with a professional for an in-person assessment. It is best to nip problems in the bud rather than waiting for things to get worse and reach a breaking point where things may no longer be manageable. So if your adult dogs show any worrisome behaviors towards your new puppy,  have a plan in place to intervene immediately to stop the interaction as safely as you can, keep both parties separated and consult with a behavior professional to play it safe.

I hope this helps,

Best,

Adrienne

 

 

[HeidiCaccamise]

Thank you so much for all your advice.  I will take all of it in and do everything I can to follow it all.  I did send a blanket to the breeder but was mostly so the new puppy would have those scents to help her adjust but I can see where that blanket could have other uses.  

My older dog is people fear aggressive and has always done fine with my parents small dogs (just ignores them) and did great when introduced to Biscuit when she was 3 months old.  I did exactly what you said to do with Biscuit as far as keeping her connected to me and her movement restricted so as not to pester Frisbee since puppies have no boundaries.  It only took a couple weeks of closely monitored interaction for them to become very bonded and now they are best buds.  

Everything you mentioned also about Frisbee perhaps getting jealous of the two younger dogs playing and Biscuit wanting to play all the time are all things that I've been a little concerned with so I am thankful you addressed them as well.  

And thanks for the reminder about not going necessarily to a neutral spot since the puppy will not have had all her shots.  I will have to think that through before she comes next week.  

Thanks again for all the feedback.

[Adrienne]

You are very welcome!

I am glad that Frisbee did great when introduced to Bisquit, although as dogs get older they may be less inclined to adjust to new routines so may need  some more "wiggle room" with this new introduction.

Here are some best wishes for a smooth introduction. Keep me posted on how things go!

I am always here if you need support.

Best,

Adrienne

[HeidiCaccamise]

Hi...I wanted to give an update of the puppy introduction.  Not surprising, the puppy, Baylee, and Biscuit, the golden did great.  It took a couple days but they love each other and love playing and Baylee even sleeps next to or on top of Biscuit when napping.

Another story with Frisbee, also as expected.  It's been almost two weeks and he's not totally accepted her yet.  He's curious.  He hangs around, partially I think out of jealousy but not engaging yet.  Two days ago he did slap his front paws down and lower his body to initiate play with Baylee but unfortunately Biscuit body slammed him thinking he wanted to play with her.  That is his only attempt to engage so far other then just staying nearby.

Yesterday, she was off leash for a moment and walked by him and put her paws on his side and he was fine and just walked away.  A few minutes later she was anchored and he walked close by and out of nowhere gave a pretty good growl at her.  

So, I am a little confused about his reaction to her as far as being curious, watching, staying close, etc but not engaging in play.  My big concern is she is a major biter and if he plays with her I am afraid if she bites him with her sharp teeth he is not going to take that well.

So, with this update, do you have any suggestions for me as far as Frisbee and Baylee.  We are keeping her on a leash almost all the time as she has no boundaries and I don't want her to approach Frisbee (want him to approach her).  I know my anxiety probably is felt by Frisbee whereas my husband is more relaxed (but also can be too relaxed and I do not want to set Frisbee up to fail and/or get Baylee hurt).

I knew going into this it would take time but just want to make sure I am doing everything possible to create a harmonious life for all.  (also, I am trying to give dogs individual attention as well as giving Frisbee and Biscuit alone play time and Biscuit and Baylee alone play time as well as all three outside with Baylee anchored or the two older dogs in a fenced pool area with Baylee on the outside of the fence.  

I appreciate any suggestions.

 

[Adrienne]

These are difficult situations when we want to play it safe, but would love to watch dogs play and all get along. I might be biased because I tend to be asked for more for help on dog-to-dog  interactions gone wrong, so I tend to err on the side of caution. In general, I prefer to keep the numbers of dogs being introduced and playing low because we can monitor them more carefully and also the fact that when there are two dogs interacting/ playing together there are less chances for things deteriorating (two dogs ganging up against a third dog, jealousy, redirected bites, fun police dogs etc.)

So it would be preferable for Baylee and Frisbee to be introduced on their own. Growling from an older dog directed towards a younger one is often to correct the puppy's obnoxious behaviors and to tell the puppy to try to play less rough. Older dogs can make great teachers towards puppies, but not all are cut for the task.  Some dogs may growl more because they are not comfortable or they are fearful which can lead to a defensive bite. So we need to tread with caution. Feeding tasty treats to Frisbee every time he sees the pup can help form positive associations so that he looks forward to being around the pup.

I rather go slow with the process working at Frisbee's pace, ensuring encounters are pleasant until he accepts her, rather than fast and risking him associating the pup with some negative emotion.