How to introduce puppy to older dog?

G

gable

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 January 2009
Messages
403
Visit site
We want to get it right.

We already have a 5 year old border collie bitch and are getting a JRT puppy in the next few weeks so we are busy planning her arrival.

We have gone for a JRT bitch as our current dog gets along well with my friends JRT bitch.

We have read up on how to introduce the puppy but have found lots of conflicting ideas.
Also, pup will be in a crate at night - do i leave older dog in the same room or put her in a different one?

so

i thought I would ask you lovely lot.

Any ideas please.

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Well I am not an expert, there are many people on here with more experience who should be able to help, but I have always introduced the new pup slowly. When he arrives home, I make sure he gets a room to himself with his crate, blanket, etc. all ready for him. I give him a little chance to settle and take his time with his new surroundings. Meanwhile OH gives the older dog a lot of attention in another room/in the garden/takes her for a walk. Depending on how shy/confident the pup is, I let the older dog in the room with him but always supervised. I've never had a problem with the older dogs, they've all quickly taken to the puppies, but I have made sure they are not left unsupervised for a properly long time and if left together the pup is always in the crate.

Hope this helps!
 
Likewise, we made sure the older dog was tired from walk, made lots of fuss of him. The first actual meet was in a very large garden, so plenty of space to run around.
We also made sure the older dog has his own area in the house with a bed where puppy is never allowed, just so he has a break from all the bouncing. They are in the same room but puppy is crated.
The only sign of bother we had was about three weeks in, where it dawned on the older dog that the new houseguest was a permanent fixture and not leaving! More fuss, the occasional seperate walk and trying to distract puppy so older dog didnt have him swinging off his ears all day long.
 
We introduced the pups straight away and then put them in their crate so Brig could sniff and not be bothered. We took it very slowly and the pups stayed in the kitchen and were not out of the crate unless we were supervising.

We still mostly supervise as Zak can be a little terror and hang off Brig's ears sometimes. They sleep together during the day, play together and are generally fine now. Big dog gets separate big dog privileges like going upstairs and having cuddles when pups are in their crate at night or when we go for baths.

I think pups are going to be allowed to stay out of the crate overnight soon and that will be interesting. Brig likes to sleep in the greenhouse and they all come and go as they please through the kitchen door dog flap.
 
We make sure puppy and older dogs have their own space to get away from each other and pup's sleep crated at night but we generally just bung them all together, unless we go out in which case pup is put out of harms way!!

Great choice by the way - can't go wrong with a JRT! I only have 3 :p
 
Crate at night and together when you are there to supervise. Worked great for us; we were so paranoid as 7wk old cocker bitch pup could easily have been squashed by our 65kg mastiff x dobey dog. Thankfully he is a gentle giant and loves her to bits; crate was only to stop him sleeping on her and squishing her accidentally as she so loves to snuggle up to him!

She uses her crate even now at 8 months; it is her little den and she loves it; funny how we humans see a cage, but they see security and home!

Good luck with it, I'm sure they'll love each other!
 
Thanks for your help.I think I've got it now.

Pup in crate at night and when we are not there to supervise.
Make big fuss over older dog - which she is used to.
Big dog still to sleep outside our bedroom door while poor pup is crated in the kitchen

She is 4 weeks old on Tuesday so should be home in another 4 weeks.

We have called her Boo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top