Getting a puppy with an older dog?

[ecrozier]

How do your older dogs cope in your experience? I had always thought I would not get a pup til we one day lose our older boy (a 9 year old Rott) but having watched a few friends get puppies this year, the ones who have brought a puppy in to a household with an older dog seem to have had a much easier time of socialisation, establishing pecking order, and even things like training recall etc! It might be related to them being better with young dogs, but it's not an isolated case, and my Rott is good with puppies/other dogs and is very nice boy to have around, but has always been a solo dog in the house (apart from when looking after friends dogs etc which he is fine with). We do also have a cat, so he isn't totally the only animal, and equally I wondered whether he would be helpful in teaching a puppy how to relate to the cat correctly etc - they are best of friends!
Anyway, what I am looking for is thoughts really, do older dogs usually enjoy having a puppy around or does it tend to cause resentment? We would of course be very careful not to give too much attention to one or other dog! And we are looking at a smaller breed next time, possibly a wheaten terrier or similar.

 

[cbmcts]

I got a rott puppy with a 13 yo JRT, a 7 yo JRT (both bitches) and 3 cats aged 11 - 13. One of the reasons I got a pup rather than an older rescue rott was so the resident animals had time to mold him to their ways while he was still small and they were able to beat him up! When both girls died I got a 8yo JRT with the then 7 yo rott and he was fine with him too. As a child we also got 2 terrier pups when our GSP was fairly old and they gave him a new lease of life so I would go for it.

The old girl was very good with him - they used to play happily together even if she used to use the coffee table as a shelter to avoid being flattened...more than once it got knocked over during the game She was very protective of him which was funny when he was getting hassled, watching a 40kg rottie hiding behind a geriatric terrier who would raise hell if anything went for her puppy. The younger JRT sulked for the rest of her life because I brought this 'thing' into her life but she was a very odd dog anyway The cats made it their mission in life to tease the rott who took it all in good humour even when they used their paws to pull his bowl away while he was eating. I did a lot of refereeing when he was young - telling the other animals to leave him alone/stop teasing him!

I now only have a 10 year male terrier who is a bit of a thug with other dogs so I'm hoping to find a middle aged rott bitch that can put him back in his box as a second dog. Fingers crossed!

 

[paisley]

Older dog coped admirably well, until about three weeks in- then it dawned on him that the 'house guest' was not leaving

We just made sure older dog had his own place (comfy bed under the table), where pup was absolutely not allowed, and older dog had his own walks/fuss time now and then so he wasnt totally harassed by Junior. Seemed to work out fine

 

[Oscar]

It's taken a few months, but my older dogs JRT x's have finally accepted my now 5 half month old Doberman. Luckily the Dobe has think skin and didn't notice that they hated him!! Think they finally got it that the imposter isn't leaving!!

I made sure I kept their routines as normal as possible, and walked them on their own to allow them their own space etc, and made sure their beds, bowls etc remained the same. Good luck!!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Took my older dog a few months and he really hated the pups at first. Getting two was a bit much for him! But as can be seen in the sig pic, he got over it. I crated the pups for their safety if we weren't in the same room and overnight. He got big dog time and special privileges, still does.

 

[reddie]

We got a rescue dog when our old dog was about 14 and who had always been on his own. He absolutely loved her, and I'm sure it gave him a new lease of life.

 

[jodie3]

Older dog coped admirably well, until about three weeks in- then it dawned on him that the 'house guest' was not leaving

This sounds so like my boy! He is nine and has always lived with my EBT but can sometimes be a bit funny with strange dogs in his house. When I got Diva in February he wasn't very keen but luckily she was in season and although he has had the chop the memory lingers so he tried to hump her a couple of times and decided she could stay!

About ten days ago I got a ten week old pup which he has been very good with but he now has what we call his 'isn't it time the puppy went home' face!

 

[CAYLA]

Not resentment! thats a human way to look at things, old dogs are like older people "sometimes they can't be arsed". You can introduce a new pup to any household, just dont ever be of the thought that "it's the older dogs job to entertain the youngster or berate the elder for getting peeved and snarling and snapping" it's not (it's yours) aslong as you always think thats way until such time the older dog can/will tolerate, all will be fine

 

[ecrozier]

Thanks all - cbmcts your post did make me laugh, many of my rottie's best playmates over the years have been jrts, but they have all developed clever strategies for when he gets too 'full on', my favourite was a friend jrt bitch who used to run off at full speed til kaiber followed, then just before he caught up, would lie down flat on the floor til he ran straight over her, by the time he realised/slowed down/turned, she was miles away in the other direction!