Is it harder to introduce an older dog than a puppy to my dog?

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.

Below is some information to help you with the introduction process. Congratulations on your new puppy. If you do notice Tyson behaving aggressively sweperate then immediately. The most effective long term plan will be to reward Tyson when he is "gentle" with the puppy. Have that word as your command goal. Bringing a new puppy or dog into the home can be a great way to help revitalize your older dog's routine. Many owners often find that a second dog can help reduce stress and anxiety, and provide a playmate for their current dog. When introducing your new dog, taking things slow and following the below steps will best ensure the two dogs get along from the start! Provide a Personal Space Before ever bringing home your new dog, be sure to set aside a personal space for both the new dog and your old. This can include spaces such as a crate your dogs feel comfortable in, separate food and water bowls, and enough bedding for the two to each have their own spot at any time. Making sure there are multiples of prized objects can help reduce some of the competition over them and prevent a fight. Start the Introduction Behind Closed Doors Your dogs may have already met at the shelter or breeder, however starting off with a barrier between the two will help them to get to know each other without a fight. If your dogs get along great off the bat you may be able to skip this step, however if your dogs are a little nervous, placing a door, screen or baby gate between the two can help. This will allow them to get used to the sight and smell of each other without being able to cause harm. Monitor Meetings After the two dogs are used to each other through a visible gate, an introduction can begin. It is good to place leashes on each dog and keep the leashes dragging in case of an argument or if one dog becomes agitated. If at any time a fight occurs or someone becomes nervous, a leash can easily be grabbed on each dog to separate them until a later time. If they get along well, continue the session and end on a positive note. If at any time either dog becomes upset or agitated, separate the two and try again later. Don't worry if they don't get along right away, sometimes it takes a bit of time! Supervision is Key Until you are positive your dogs will get along great, make sure they are supervised when together at all times. This may also include picking up any contested toys or bones as well as monitoring the use of food or water dishes. If you do have to leave your dogs alone, it is best to separate them in different rooms or crates until you are sure they will get along well while you are away. Give Everyone Some Love! Having two dogs is a great way for your previous dog to have a new companion and to prevent boredom and increase exercise. However, each dog should also have some personal time with you without your newer (or older) dog there. Set aside time for a short training session or just some petting and grooming while your other dog is occupied with a bone or toy. Making sure each of your dogs new and old get some love will help keep your bond strong!

If your dog does not get along with other dogs it was probably a very bad idea (and a very stressful one) to bring a new puppy into the house. A new puppy can also be hard around a newborn as they aren't yet sure how to interact with each other. You can try to continue to get the two to get along by starting with limited introductions that are supervised, however if a fight breaks out the interaction should be stopped immediately and started again later. Never leave the two unsupervised together as even a good play sessions can cause accidental injury. You can also use baby gates as a way for the two to "meet" each other without being able to physically be together. If fights are continually breaking out, talking to a trainer or behaviorist that can observe within the home is best.

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.

Congrats on adding the new puppy to your household. These things can take time and patience but most pets will come around. Here is a helpful link: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-introduce-a-puppy-or-dog-to-your-older-dog/ Other things that will help including walking the dogs together, giving the older dog some alone time and keeping the puppy from getting too rough with the older dog. Also praise the older dog when she approaches the puppy or exhibits positive interest in the puppy. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

I would recommend walking your two current dogs for a big long walk (30-60+ minutes) to get them tired out a bit. And then having them meet Pete out in your neighborhood at the end of your walk. One person should have your two older dogs, and one person should be walking Pete. Start out walking parallel on either side of the road and slowly get closer and closer over 10-15 minutes until they are walking next to each other. Don't actually encourage them to interact, just walk and distract them with treats if they seem overly interested in the puppy. End your walk at home and take them all inside. If they show a lot of interest in the pup, use treats to distract them or separate them. Keep allowing them to interact while supervised until you are comfortable with their interactions. Good luck and enjoy your new pup! Let me know if this was helpful information and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This really depends on the dog that you bring home and Wordsworth's reaction to the situation. I do think that you can bring along another dog. However, I think it is key to make sure that they are a good match before adopting. For example, try to avoid getting a puppy or a high energy type dog if Wordsworth is not an energetic dog and viceversa. For that reason, I recommend that you foster first before adopting and that way you can get a sense of how they are going to get along. Good luck and have a great day!