Introducing a new pup

[shell820810]

I would like a playmate for Toby. He is 6 months, and I am intending to get another pup when he is about 9 months.

He is well socialised with other dogs, and loves to play with other pups….or so I thought!

He goes to my aunts 3 times a week when I am at work. She has a 2 yr old sheltie and just got another sheltie pup. (both are males).

Toby doesn’t really like the new pup. He wont play, he snaps at him, though they do sniff each other and wag tails. It nearly as though Toby thinks its his house and this new pup is an intruder.

So that makes me wonder how he would react to a new pup in our house? Will he try to be the boss, and it will cause fights?

I had intended to get another male, but maybe a female would be better if he is going to be territorial??

[chachi]

I would get a female. I have a male and a female and My male is the dominant one and they never fight

[bchgirl]

I have four and personally I think the younger they are when introduced...the easier. Puppies can not take the temptation to play with another puppy. I will say all of mine prefer small size puppies to larger ones. Eventually Toby will accept the new pup at your aunt's and yes it's likely he'll want to establish his role when he gets a sibling.

[MntSnowBabies]

It sound like Toby is trying to tell your mom's pup who the dominate one is.

I bought a female puppy at first. She is attached to my husbands dog and looks at her like her mommy (poor Kylee, she can't stand her jumping in her face). So I thought I would get her a play mate her size and I bought a male. Well needless to say that my girl Raeley is the dominate one and Riley will push her buttons now that she is pregnant, but I never had an issue with either one when I brought the little guy home and she was about 9 months old.

If you feel that Toby will take it hard introduce the new puppy slowly. Keep one locked up in a room with a baby gate (this keeps them from snapping and hurting each other if it comes to that) once they are use to each other, bring them together but keep a close eye on both. Toby will try to tell the puppy who is boss in the house, but if you feel it gets to rough you'll need to seperate them. Just remember biting on the neck (not to draw blood) is showing the pup who is the alpha male, if the pup rolls over onto his back, or constant licking around Toby's mouth shows Toby that the pup sees him as the alpha.