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Our current dog doesn't care for puppy

2K views 22 replies 11 participants last post by  Kalhayd 
#1 ·
It's been a week and a half since Hope has been home and our six year old lab mix doesn't seem too happy she is here. He is better around her than he was at the beginning, but still growls and bares his teeth at times when she gets too close.

I take them on walks together and they do beautifully. Side by side and no issues. But he only seems to tolerate her. I have kept their interactions supervised and brief so as to not stress him out. Hope does a good job of backing off when he gives her a warning.

He and my other Golden were great friends, so I am surprised that he hasn't taken to Hope.

Any suggestions?
Thanks
Jill
 
#2 ·
We only had our puppy home for a day, so not a ton of experience.

Bayleigh is 10.5 year old golden and has been the Queen of the house her whole life.

When we brought her in, she sniffed her, looked up at us like "are you kidding me" and walked away.

She did growl once when the puppy fell into her water bowl when Bay was drinking out of it. Our vet said not to correct growls, only snaps, as that's Bay's way of saying, "knock it off, kid!"

The puppy absolutely adores Bayleigh & chased her around, played with her tail, and even tried to nurse off of her.

Everyone has told me it takes time for them to accept a new family member. Be patient and I'm sure they'll be the best of friends very soon.
 
#3 ·
Just give them more time. It's a big change, especially for an older dog. It took a few months for our oldest dog to accept the new puppy, and he was only 3 when she came home. Puppies can be a lot to adjust to for an adult dog. They run around the house, constantly want to play, and try to steal toys and food. They may never have the same bond that your lab had with your other dog but they'll learn to get along in time.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Make sure you always supervise, especially when toys or food or involved. You have to be able to tell if the older dog is just correcting the puppy or is actually going to harm the little one. I'd be getting professional help if you're really afraid the older dog would attack. We never had to worry about the latter, but we did have a problem with submissive urination for a while.
 
#6 ·
My sisters old dog liked Chloe. But when she got to in his face and didn't want to be bothered he would give a little growl and show his teeth. When she got around the five month mark she learned to leave him alone. Sometimes they can help a younger dog learn. Deuce never snapped at Chloe though.
 
#7 ·
I am always with them. I would never leave them alone. I don't think he would hurt her, he just doesn't seem to like her much. Tonight he let me sit on the sofa next to him while I held her. She was able to lick his face gently and his paw with no issue. It's really only when she is rambunctious or bothering him when he's trying to relax. The first few days he would growl or bare his teeth whenever she came near him. He seldom does that now. Only when she is jumping around him.
 
#10 ·
Our vet always told us that the puppy, no matter how cute, is always wrong and the older dog is always right. It has worked for us for 25+ years.

Growls and snaps in the air are warning signs - the puppy needs to heed them. Discouraging him from giving the warning signs will, at some point, result in a fight. We don't have to understand why the older dog is giving the warning signs, just that the puppy is starting to cross the line.
Your dogs may not ever be best buds, but they definitely won't if the puppy doesn't learn the dog rules.

Our dogs are 12, 6, 3 and 1. The eldest has the least tolerance for the puppy, but they do play together. She sets the rules and he follows them for the most part.

Frequent walks (a tired puppy is a good puppy) and puppy classes will also help. Give the puppy some crate time, so the older dog has some time with you and time away from the puppy. Give the dog lots of treats when the puppy is around - you want the dog to think the puppy equals treats.

And give it time. It can take months for everyone to adjust.
 
#16 ·
Our vet always told us that the puppy, no matter how cute, is always wrong and the older dog is always right. It has worked for us for 25+ years.

Growls and snaps in the air are warning signs - the puppy needs to heed them. Discouraging him from giving the warning signs will, at some point, result in a fight. We don't have to understand why the older dog is giving the warning signs, just that the puppy is starting to cross the line.
Your dogs may not ever be best buds, but they definitely won't if the puppy doesn't learn the dog rules.

And give it time. It can take months for everyone to adjust.
This.

It's important to let the resident dog set the rules and let the pup know what's acceptable and what isn't. If your older dog isn't allowed to correct the pup now, the pup won't learn how to behave and there will, eventually, be a fight.

When we brought our pup home in January, our resident poodle hated him on sight, and spent the next two months snarling and snapping at him. We put their food bowls at opposite ends of the kitchen and were very careful in all situations involving food (in the kitchen, etc.). Otherwise, the poodle was allowed to set and enforce the rules. We didn't correct him, even when his behaviour was borderline nasty.

Now that our pup is nearly six months old, they've become good friends. As I type this, they're sharing a basket under my desk. They play together, share treats and hang out together in the garden. There were times during those very long first two months that I had my doubts, but the "let them sort it out" approach has worked in our household for the last 30 years, and this time has been no exception.

Our training school also teaches us always to reinforce the older dog. If he snaps, it's because the pup's behaviour was inappropriate. Preventing the correction only postpones the problem, and potentially makes it worse.

Good luck, hope things work out for you too.
 
#11 ·
You guys are the best! Thanks for all the advice. When I say corrected him for snapping, it was more distracting him with a command. Having him come to me. He is very well trained and it seemed to work.

I do have an xpen for the puppy and a crate for both. His is not on the same level so he can escape and I do make sure she is crated or in her pen when she is being obnoxious.

The walks really have helped to provide positive time together. He is great on leash and is teaching her the same. They have even begun some running in the yard together. Although mostly he tries to ignore her. lol

It sounds like we are on the right track. He is a bit of a nervous rescue dog and I think she scares him a bit. We ALWAYS reward him for positively interacting with her and I give him so much extra love. I think that is helping.

Thanks for the reassurances. My anxiety sometimes gets the best of me.
 
#12 ·
My two tolerate but don't like each other. The 10 year old guy, Dusty, is too mellow and the pup, Teddy, is too active and dominant. Dusty never snapped or corrected him. After 7 months together they rarely play with each other. Teddy has always bit Dusty's legs and side and chases him out of the yard and onto the deck. Then the interaction is over.In the house they go their separate ways. Never any fights but not the pals we were hoping they would be.
 
#13 ·
I have always had at least 2 dogs and, over the years have brought many new dogs or puppies into our "pack". All of what you have described is pretty normal behavior. The original dog initially may be less than enthusiastic about the new dogs arrival, but, in my experience (over having dogs for the past 40 years) they will work it out. They may not become best of friends, and there will be little you can do to change that, or they may become absolutely devoted to one another. It is for them to decide. To ease the transition of a new dog I usually will make sure I continue to spend plenty of time alone with the original dog (s). I do not give the new member preferential treatment. In the case of a puppy I have found that the older dog (s) will establish their boundaries and, in the event the puppy crosses them the puppy generally will receive a warning growl and, if necessary, a nip. When I brought Bailey (my 15 mo. old golden) home he was a puppy with all of the exuberance of a 2 month old puppy. Gracie tolerated his shenanigans for quite a while but Bailey just did not seem to catch on. Finally one day I think she had simply had enough. She flipped him over and sat on him until he calmed down. She didn't hurt him, she simply sat on him and stayed there. When Bailey had calmed down she got up, walked to him and gently licked his face. It was as if she was saying, "Ok kid. I have had enough of your nonsense. I run the show here. Straighten up and fly right and then we can be buddies." And they have been best friends ever since. Give it a week or 2 and I would bet it will have all worked out. Dogs, I think, adapt to new roommates better than we people do;)
 
#15 ·
I thought I would have a nervous breakdown when my older dog(12 years) refused to tolerate the puppy. We ended up separating them with a puppy gate and also used the crate. It is hard on the older dog because everyone pays attention to the puppy, the puppy has special food and toys, and old dog gets disciplined for barking or growling at the puppy. Puppies are obnoxious, too. The poor old dog's entire world changed and as far as he is concerned, not for the better.
It takes weeks to adjust, or longer. Keep taking them on pack walks, supervise encounters,and spend time with the old dog.
Also, if the older dog is neutered and the new puppy is probably not, there is the hormone thing, too.
 
#17 ·
You were all so right! They are getting along so much better. She adores him and he tolerates her...lol.... She is allowed to give him puppy kisses on his face and hang out by him as long as she isn't being too much of a jerk and biting his face and jumping in it when he is tired. He will only give her corrections when she is being a pain now and that is so seldom as she reads his signs well. A little growl and she backs off. Only a few times has he had to snap (bark at her) but never any contact.

The pack walks were and are the key I think. Plus we really make over him and give him treats when he is tolerant of her shenanigans. LOL

Thought you might enjoy a picture of her taking him for a walk.
Jill
 

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#21 ·
Our 12.5 old Golden Lady has been queen of the house too for a long time. She is tolerant of our new pup and seems to be warming up. Going on
the third week. First Day the little one tried to pick a crumb of treat of the floor. Oh my. It was a nasty snap and sent the little one flying.
Today they played tug of war for a few moments. I have seen them sleep butt to butt. I just have to give them their space to work it out.
 
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