Introducing a new pup
I’m getting a new pup and want my 6 yr old dog to like him, any ideas how to introduce them?
Deanna
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What kind are you getting and is it the same breed as the 6 year old?
Beachbaby
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Yes, please tell us what breeds and genders the puppy and adult are. Also, is the adult spayed/neutered, and how does (s)he respond to other dogs in general?
Tempest
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I have the same question, i have a 6 year old female dal and we have gotten a 6 month old mutt both have been spayed, the older one doesn’t seem to like the younger one being here, any suggestions?
Francesca
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Please read my response to the thread titled, “Very bossy shiba inu!!!!”
It addresses some of the issues involved in a multiple dog household with more than one alpha canine personality.
Tempest
Arcadia sounds like a very alpha (dominant) personality, and alpha personalities often have strong and ongoing conflicts with other pack members, esp. those of their own gender. Two alpha females are often more likely to seriously injure each other in violent fights than are two alpha males. That’s why it’s never a good idea to have two alpha females (or two alpha males) in the same household.
If Chloe also has an alpha personality, it will only express itself more strongly in her behavior and in her conflicts with Arcadia as she matures. If that’s the case, you may never have peace in your household, and you may, indeed, have seriously bloody battles in which any member of your household – two or four legged – may get injured in the crossfire.
Taking both Arcadia and Chloe (separately) through obedience classes would certainly help you establish yourself as alpha in your household, which is something it sounds like you desperately need to do. However, even obedience classes won’t change the way the dogs interact with each other when you’re not in the room. They will continue to fight and put your family at risk. It’s in the alpha nature, and it’s not something you’re going to be able to change.
I have a very old alpha female. In her younger days, she was a very pushy, very dominant dog with the other family canines, esp. the females. Fortunately, neither of our other females were at all alpha, so they instantly backed down when Moonie laid down the law. Moonie did a lot of snapping and growling, but there was never a single fight because none of the other dogs ever challenged her authority. If they had, I could have intervened and stopped any conflict that arose in my presence. However, I know I never could have left Moonie alone with another alpha female without them trying to kill each other.
Now, Moonie is an extremely old lady who can not even rise to her feet without assistance. Her eyesight and hearing are both poor. Even in her frail state, Moonie remains the undisputed alpha dog in our household.
We do now have a young adult female with a very alpha personality. We adopted Tasha as a young puppy, and Moonie let her know immediately who was boss. Surprisingly, Tasha defers to Moonie and will flop down on her back across Moonie’s paws when the Queen Dog barks at her. But I don’t believe things would be nearly so peaceful between them if Moonie were still mobile. If Moonie were able to push Tasha around the way she did the others when she was younger, I think this house would be a bloody battlefield. Our current peaceful state is due to Moonie’s inability to challenge Tasha’s alpha behavior toward everyone else.
I wish I could be more encouraging about your situation, but I believe your only hope of reasonable coexistence is if Chloe decides to acquiesce to Arcadia’s domination, and it doesn’t sound like that’s going to happen. You may have to do what another internet acquaintance of mine has had to do in her household – split the house in two and give each dog their half, never being allowed in the same space together. That’s a tough way to manage a family.
Good luck,
Tempest
