Not accepting new puppy - help please!

StarFell

StarFell

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My family recently got an 8 week old weimeraner puppy, and it's been a nightmare so far because my other dog just won't accept him. Bess is a 14 year old collie, and she has been on her own since we lost my other 13 year old dog in January. They had been together since they were puppies and got along great.
Every time Alfie (the pup) goes near Bess she growls and snaps at him, and it is totally out of character for her! I've never seen her go for another dog, she's just such a sweetie usually!
Could she be jealous because she has got used to being the only dog and she has to share our attention now? Or is it just that at 14, she doesn't have the patience with him?
 
i think that it is probably a bit of jealousy mixed with having a new far more excitable addition to your household that is very different in terms of wanting attention compared to her old friend that your dog was used to. when we first get new pups in, we always socialise by keeping the puppy in a pen or puppy cage in the same room with our dogs to begin with so that they can get used to each others presence as well as sniff at eachother safely without the puppy being annoying and asking for attention/stealing toys from the other dogs which can lead to jealousy and aggression. also, make sure you allow for plenty of cuddle time with Bess when the puppy is not around so that she knows that she is still top-dog!
 
I've been giving Bess more attention if anything, I just feel really sorry for her, bless her. She's such a lovely dog, and its hard seeing her so wound up. We tried putting the pup in a cage but he howled and howled, he absolutely hates it. When I've been going home I've been saying hello to Bess before the pup too so she knows she still comes first.
Thanks a lot for your advice
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At 14 im not suprised she does not want the little mite around her....I would persist with the crate, it will only get harder to introduce him to it as time goes on, they do howl at first but soon give in..... as long as u don't
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she needs to assosiate being around him when he is settled and not irritating her...i.e in the crate but unable to get to her.

Always give her space to get away if she needs too, he will not always be so irritating little blighter, and she will get used to him in time.
Also try palying with him and tiring him out before allowing him to settle around her, this way he is more likely to sleep, but of course always supervise and step in if he does get to over the top for her.
At this age a warning snap from her could prove fatal, atleast whn he is a little older and she tells him off he will understand and not get badly hurt.

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It depends why she is telling him off. If he is initiating contact and she is telling him off, then try to give her more space and give her time to get used to him.

We had an older dog that directly and without provocation would attack the puppy which is very unusual and this is what sorted it: as soon as the older dog attacked the puppy we took him (the older dog) away and put him in a room all by himself. The entire 'family', human and doggie, left him alone in the room. We left him for a few minutes and then let him out as if nothing had happened. We needed to repeat this three times and that was the end of that (if the older dog is so aggressive that you can't remove it, take everyone else and leave him behind on his own). It is supposed to send a direct signal to the dog: this behaviour is unacceptable and if you persist you are on your own.
 
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