How do I handle my Shiba Inu puppies at a party with many guests?

Keeping the new puppy by itself in the crate and slowly increasing his access as he is more reliable in the house is a good transition for both the new pup and your older dog. It is best to not crate them together as the crate can be an area of contention and a fight may break out with one or both pets unable to escape. Slow introductions of short, monitored, play sessions followed by breaks with the new puppy in a playpen or gated off area is a good way to get the two used to each other. If one or both dogs gets too stressed, separating them in different rooms or crates for a period of time until they've calmed down is best.

Kurama is a very handsome guy! Some dogs aren't very comfortable in crowded places with lots of other people and dogs, just like some people who don't really like social situations. You can try using a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure to help reduce his anxiety in these situations. You can also help by allowing him to keep his distance from people and other animals when he isn't comfortable - never force him to greet people or be in crowded places if he doesn't enjoy this. You can help him with his fear by standing at a distance, and giving him praise and treats for calm behavior. If his fear is severe enough to interfere with his daily life, then I would recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate him in person and help you put together a more detailed plan to help him. This may include specific training exercises to work on, as well as possibly prescription anti-anxiety medication to help reduce his stress and make it easier for him to learn. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

It sounds like your dog is a little bit stressed with all these people are the party. I'm wondering if there isn't a reason why he can't come out and join the party. If you have a small kennel, you can put him in there which will give him a safe space of his own. You could also give him a toy filled with treats that he has to figure out how to get out, which can keep him occupied for a while.

I recommend having Lilly in the crate when people come over. When they are inside and settled then let her out of the crate to greet them. They should not focus on her just continue socially with you. If she's calm they can pat her but I wouldn't do anything to get her excited. Over time she'll learn that when she's under control she can be with visitors. If she gets too excited then I would put her outside or back into the crate, This is not punishment per se but rather a time out until she can control her behavior. Training her will take time and patience but it will be worth the effort when you have a well behaved companion. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Lilly.

Take her with you, but bring a crate for her to "escape" to if she becomes overly stressed. Consider a pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, which may decrease any anxiety. You don't need to have her out all weekend, just for short periods, so she can acclimate to people. If you feel it will be too stressful, then board her for the weekend and begin acclimating her to people upon your return. Introduce her to one person at a time for ever increasing periods of time. Praise and reward her as she progresses.

3. Avarietyofexperiences Go out of your way to encounter different types of people, places, animals, walking surfaces, noises, and other situations. Give treats to friendly strangers to give to your dog; most people will happily oblige an obedient puppy. Some Ideas/ Suggestions: • Enroll in a “puppy preschool” class and start training early. • Sit on a bench with your puppy, near a school when the kids are coming out • Take your puppy to a public park where people jog, rollerblade, and ride bikes. • Show them how fun water can be with a baby pool. • Take your puppy in the car with you when you run errands or go through the drive- thru (don’t do on a full puppy stomach). Vaccination concerns The risk of your puppy developing serious behavior problems from being poorly socialized is far greater than that of infectious disease. But to be safe, only let your puppy interact with dogs that you know are physically and behaviorally healthy and vaccinated. In addition, don’t let him play in unclean environments, such as dog parks, that may be contaminated with germs from unknown dogs, until he has received all of his vaccinations, usually at 16 weeks. Please contact your veterinarian for more information about socialization and health care for your new addition. Further Reading American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior, www.avsabonline.org

There are a few things you can do, and looking up "door/greeting manners" on a site like YouTube can give you some visual examples of these training techniques. When people come over, having a leash by the door is a good idea. At the first sign of knocking or a doorbell, leash up your dogs and keep them in a sitting position. If they jump up or become too excited, have your visitor ignore them until they are able to settle back down and sit again. Once they are calmer, offering them a treat is best to teach them that calm, quiet sitting behavior is rewarded, and being excited is not. If they are jumping up on you when you get home, you can do a similar thing by ignoring them until they are calmer (even if you have to stand there for a few minutes without moving). Once they are calm, offer a treat and praise. You may need to spend a day where you take a step, wait for calm behavior, take a step, wait, etc, until they are a bit better about understanding what you are doing. As for the excitement urination, this is often something dogs grow out of, but in the meantime it is best to just ignore the pup that potties. Try not to make a big deal out of coming home (which can lead to excitement and thus urination), and instead wait until both dogs are calm to acknowledge them. If you do give your pup some attention, making sure it's on a tile floor that is easy to clean is best!