My older dog barks at our new puppy. How can they get along?

I would probably separate them for awhile to help them get acclimated to the situation. Rocky may end up needing some anti-anxiety meds or a calming collar like adaptil to help him de-stress. I would start by introducing them with a door between them and hopefully Rocky will get use to the idea that the puppy isn't going anywhere and stop barking. If you thinks he needs anti-anxiety meds, I would talk to your vet for a prescription. I hope this helps!

Outside is neutral territory; inside is your previous dog's territory. There isn't much other than allowing him time to get used to having a new roommate. Try to keep things as normal as possible. Continue the walks outside so they can bond. You can also use Adaptil diffusers or DAP collars to provide calming pheromones.

In addition to a gradual introduction or acclimation, consider using a pheromone product such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser. Either may decrease any anxiety or aggression. Correct any aggression or negative behavior immediately. Praise and reward good behavior. Be consistent and be patient.

You will likely need to separate the new dog from the 2 "older" dogs for a period of time. Spend time with each separately, but make sure that they cannot see the new dog, i.e. keep him in a separate part of the house behind a closed door for at least one to two weeks. Then you can allow them to see each other, but not have contact. Move slowly, from this phase on to allowing them to see and smell each other across a barrier such as a baby gate. Finally, allow them to spend supervised time together. Reward good behavior with high value food treats (i.e. bits of cooked chicken) and go slow.

A gradual introduction would be recommended. Separate them for a few days, then begin anew. Jackson may eventually become acclimated and accepting of the new dog, but it could take time. Consider a pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar or DAP diffuser, to decrease any anxiety or aggression. Correct any aggressive behavior immediately and praise and reward good behavior.

Introduce her, gradually, to one dog then another and another. Do this in a neutral area, such as a dog park or field. Correct negative behavior/responses immediately and praise/reward good behavior. Use a pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, to help decrease any anxiety.Given her age, get her enrolled in an obedience class and puppy socialization classes.

Poor Merlin! It sounds like he gets very upset around other dogs, which can be a challenging problem to work on in some cases. You will need to take things very slowly when introducing him to the new puppy - this will be hard for both of them, so be patient and stay positive. For now, I would recommend keeping them separated unless you are actively working on training with them - this will help to prevent any setbacks that may occur if they get into a fight. I would try to do several short training sessions each day if you can, no more than 5-10 minutes each. You will need another person to help you, and both dogs should be on-leash. Start with them on opposite sides of the room, and give treats for calm behavior while they are in the same room together. Over the next few days, if things are going well, you can gradually start to allow them to be closer together, still giving treats for calm behavior - if either dog becomes upset and starts to bark or growl, just move them further apart again. It may take several days or even weeks before they can safely be loose together, depending on how severe Merlin's problem is. If you are not seeing any improvement within the first week of starting this plan, I would strongly recommend getting in touch with a good reward-based trainer who can work with you in person. You can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org