Introducing a New Puppy to Older Dogs, pt. 2

Name: Teresa Portell
Email: tport40@insightbb.com
Date: 2006-01-29 10:48:26

We will be adding a 10 wk old min schnauzer puppy to our household which includes an 8 yr old dominant female min schnauzer. What will be the best way to introduce the two? Our female doesn't like other dogs in our presence.

Date: 2006-01-31 20:30:40

Thanks for your question. Hopefully, it is just a matter of the older female having a dominant personality and not an aggressive one. If you are concerned about the safety of the young puppy please write back or stop in and see us as you should take necessary precautions. Here is some advice to try and make the adjustment easier for both dogs. I would recommend introducing the two on neutral ground and the environment in which the dominant female behaves best. The puppy will most likely get its feelings hurt regularly until the ground rules are established between the two. I would strongly suggest socializing your puppy with other fun loving dogs. This is especially important in your case so that the puppy doesn't think all dogs behave like your dominant female. Puppy Preschool offered at Happy Clean and Smart is a great way to combine socialization and basic training. Socialization with new environments is something I would recommend for all puppies as the critical socialization period usually only lasts up to about 4 months. This is the time period when associations are formed to stimulations such as new and different people and dogs, loud noises, cats, etc. My rule of thumb is to try and expose your puppy to any situation such as, visits to the in-laws or traveling in the car, that you plan to place the puppy in when he/she is older. Be sure to make all these experiences positive ones. If you find your puppy has a negative reaction to something being shyness, over excitement, or aggressive behavior I recommend focusing on turning that experience into a positive one which means acceptable behavior. Another tip is to try not to show favoritism to either of the dogs. Let the two work things out on their own interfering only when safety is jeopardized. With that, I would encourage positive acceptable behavior from either dog. For example, if the puppy jumps on the older dog and she does not lash out praise her for that and then quickly distract the puppy so that he/she leaves the elder female. Both of these things will reinforce the dominant female's adjusted behavior. I also would not scold the dominant female if in the same situation she briefly lashed out at the puppy and growled, snapped, etc. The puppy also needs to learn basic manners and scolding the adult female could inhibit the adult's behavior so that next time it is not a warning growl or snap but a more escalated attack. Good luck with your new puppy and post us with updates or stop in and see us at 5700 W. Kilgore Ave.

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