How to introduce a nervous senior dog to a new puppy stress-free?

Congratulations on your new puppy! It’s best to have both pets exercised before they meet. Being a little tired will help to smooth out hyper excitibility. Also have them meet in a neutral area and have them both on a leash. Then just make sure that the older dog can have a break from the puppy if the puppy is annoying him at home. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I would consider having Loki meet the other dogs on neutral ground several times prior to moving in (or as often as possible) so that they can see eachother without feeling that space is invaded. I think having Loki on a light leash is a good idea as well initially in case things do escalate. It is important to keep the dogs separate when feeding because this is often a moment when confrontation can occur. Also be sure each dog has it's own bed that it can retire to without competition from another dog. It may be helpful if Loki is a bit anxious to gate part of the house if the other dogs tend to be in his face all the time, when you are not home especially, so he doesn't feel threatened. You can read more information on ideas for introducing new dogs at https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/a-new-friend-for-fido/

Great question! I can give you a method of introducing Junior to this dog that will hopefully allow them to live together in peace. Introducing them should be done slowly. When you first move into your new home, I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure Junior has a litter box, food, and water in their room. You can also place a blanket with the dog's smell in his room, and a blanket with theJunior's smell in the dog's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for your cat and a DAP for the dog. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once both pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing Junior in the dog's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are both comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face. I would introduce the dog on a leash to Junior while he is in a cat carrier or on the other side of a baby gate. Reward the dog for being calm and quiet near your cat. Once they seem comfortable with each other, the baby gate can be taken away. Make sure Junior has a cat tree where he can escape from the dog as needed, and don't allow the dog to chase Junior. Good luck, I hope this helps!

What cuties!!! I would honestly be less worried about bringing a friendly adult dog into your house than a puppy because puppies can be overwhelming to adult dogs who are not used to them. They are hyper and jump and bite/chew on adult dogs and some dogs do not respond favorably to this (others are find and will give the puppy warnings or love playing with them). A great option in these cases is asking if you can do a trial run/foster for the new dog to see if they get along with your dog. This gives you a little time to make a decision. If your dog has been around other dogs without issue and this dog gets along with other dogs, then it is definitely worth a try! Make sure your current dog has the ability to get away from this dog if it is annoying/pestering her, do not leave them alone together initially, and feed them in separate areas so there is no fear of competition for food. Give your dog lots of praise and treats when she meets the new dog. Sometimes meeting on a neuteral ground can be helpful if your dog is defensive of your home. I would also consider getting an Adaptil collar or diffuser which can help both dogs with any anxiety https://www.adaptil.com/us/Products/ADAPTIL-Calm-On-the-go-Collar

It is very important that you do not bring the new puppy directly into your home with the older dog there, he will become territorial and see the puppy a an intruder. Instead, take them both (separately--you'll need an assistant for this) to a neutral place where neither has ever been. Introduce them there, and after a few minutes of play the older dog should feel that he's bringing his new buddy home. Be sure the puppy has his own crate, toys, bowl, etc. Either breed should be fine; the temperament of the individual dogs is more important than the breed itself.

Without knowing how Cookie interacts with other dogs, it would be hard to say. I would recommend bringing her to a local park to see how she reacts- is she interested? Does she want to play? Or does she avoid and shy away from the other dogs? This may give you some idea as to how she may interact with a new dog in the house. If you do decide to get a new dog, I highly recommend bringing Cookie with you to the shelter or other place you are looking for one. Most shelters will allow you to introduce your current dog to any potential new family members to see if they are going to get along. As for age, it really depends more on your dog's personality and that of the new dog. An older dog that is super hyper may not work well compared to a very calm puppy, etc. As with any new pet, take introductions slow. Even if they got along outside the home, they may still have some scuffles over shared items, spaces, etc. Separating the two until both are calm, and then trying again to reintroduce them can help ensure things go more smoothly during the transition.

It can be very stressful for the existing dog when a puppy is introduced. I am not sure what you have tried already but if it is not working then you could try an Adaptil collar, Solliquin chew, or talk to your vet about trying an anti-anxiety medication, like Trazodone to see if that helps relieve any anxiety your adult dog may have. Otherwise, you may need to get a professional trainer to come and work with your dogs. Here is a link with information on how to introduce a new puppy... https://indoorpet.osu.edu/dogs/new_additions_dogs/dog-dog-intro