need advise

[tinalove]

I am adding another puppy to my family next year and I was wondering does anyone have any recommendations. When I added Khloe she was accepted by my loving sweet girl Kirby. Kirby passed over two years ago and Khloe has been the only dog. My daughter adopted a labradoodle puppy this year and she visits but she has only spent about a week or so with us. The two girls got along but I know that Khloe sensed it wasn't a permanent arrangement.

[matese]

When ever I added a puppy my older girls were afraid of it because it didn't smell like a dog lol. Then of course puppies have razor Sharpe teeth they nip a lot so my girls stayed on the sofa out of the puppy's reach. It took all most two months for my older girls to stay on the floor and play with the new kid so, don't expect Khloe to accept this puppy right away, it could take weeks.
Don't force the puppy on Khloe, let Khloe go to the puppy on her time, her terms.

Have a safe haven for Khloe where she can get some peace and quiet away from overly playful puppy.
Always make Khloe first for everything, first to be greeted and pet when you come home, first to get a treat, first to be fed.
It could take time but they will become BFF.

[Lovetodream88]

A lot of people tell you to do slow introductions and stuff and honestly I have never done that, not with my 4 or with any of the dogs I grew up with. I just put the puppy down and stay near but let everyone do what they are going to do. You do have to watch out for when Khloe has had enough of the puppy and might need her own space. I have always had pretty good luck and all of mine bonded pretty good and never had any big issues. All of mine are extremely dog friendly and I knew this way before adding any.

[nanajoy]

A long ago vet advised us to use a spritz of the same dog cologne to the shoulder of each animal when they are first spending time together. I don't know if this helped or not, but we tried it, and we have never had any trouble when introducing a new little one to the family.

[lilgidget]

Sounds like you're getting some good advice.

[tinalove]

Oh yes, thanks to all of you. As some of you may have experienced with your own dogs, my Khloe is Queen "B" and no one takes her place. I just hope the two of them get along with time. I am getting another small breed so hopefully Khole won't feel overpowered by a giant baby like she does when my daughter's labradoodle puppy visits. It is going to be fun times in my house for Thanksgiving when my daughter comes with a big baby .

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by tinalove

Oh yes, thanks to all of you. As some of you may have experienced with your own dogs, my Khloe is Queen "B" and no one takes her place. I just hope the two of them get along with time. I am getting another small breed so hopefully Khole won't feel overpowered by a giant baby like she does when my daughter's labradoodle puppy visits. It is going to be fun times in my house for Thanksgiving when my daughter comes with a big baby .

Callie is 12 and was an only dog until 3 years ago and it worked out well for us. But Callie has always been amazing with puppies.

[matese]

Do be careful with Khloe when your daughter comes with her puppy labradoodle, these puppies get very big fast. No rough house playing.

[tinalove]

I agree. I saw my daughter's labradoodle puppy this week and although she's classified as a small/medium she seems big to me. Maybe because I am used to smaller dogs. I think when I get my new puppy , Khloe and the new puppy will more compatible in size.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by tinalove

I agree. I saw my daughter's labradoodle puppy this week and although she's classified as a small/medium she seems big to me. Maybe because I am used to smaller dogs. I think when I get my new puppy , Khloe and the new puppy will more compatible in size.

Most laradoodles are considered large breed dogs because both of those breeds are considered large breeds.

[chattiesmom]

My advice would be to make the whole situation very low key. The more relaxed you are, the more likely Khloe will be relaxed and accepting. I wouldn't make any elaborae plan, especially since Khloe seems to be relaxed around new dogs, just go with the flow as long as they are civil towards each other. I would, however be sure to really praise Khloe for good behavior. It would be advisable to have an emergency plan for "just in case" Khloe doesn't like the new pup.

[Lovetodream88]

I just thought of something. Maybe before the puppy comes home Khloe could meet them a few times at the breeders house.

[yorkietalkjilly]

All good advice. Try not to overmanage your dogs if possible if you are a natural leader they will always defer to you and sense your comfort or discomfort with them and their actions so try not to hover but watch from afar until things are decides and settled. Try not to let them know you are interested. The old way we always did in my childhood and then hear with new family dogs, rescues and foster, it was just put the puppy or newcomer down and let the pack work it out amongst themselves, however robust or loud it all sounded. Older dog will likely find an escape hatch in case pup overworks his/her welcome but come back for more after a while.

Most dogs come to accept whatever, whomever we accept though I learned the hard way with my little Jilly not all of them do, especially if they've been only-dog for a long, long while and interloper gets bigger and puppyishly bullies older dog. Then they can refuse eating, chew their hair out, pine away their health as Jilly almost did. She was 3 lbs. to start, happy with the small puppy but lost 1/2 lb. and half her hair and interests in life after Teddy the Yorkie puppy outgrew and tried to dominate her.

She was born a frail, tiny runt, even grown was tiny, so when she began seriously losing weight as puppy got bigger, more athletic and unintentionally bullied her, she just withdrew from life, living it on the top back of the sofa to chew the fur off her ankles and pine life away, refusing to interact further with puppy or eat. She was so unhappy, so ill-looking, I couldn't stand it anymore so rehomed the puppy where puppy was a loved only-dog, happy to be accepted by all the family members. And Jilly resumed eating, gained weight/hair and her health back and was Happy Chappy again!

But MOST dogs do eventually tolerate then accept and eventually bond with pack mates, though they may have a few loud-sounding, fierce-seeming softish fights as dominance and submission are worked out, if that's an issue, as with some packs it's just not. One or the other of a dog pack will eventually likely become the leader, the other(s) the follower(s) unless more than one are strong-willed alpha type personalities. And some packs all are submissives so it's not a problem. But when dominance becomes painful to one, you have to manage them and apply some dog handling skills to help them work through it without injury. I try to leave them alone to work out their issues unless one dog is hurting the other, then I stop it.

Have had many rescues, fosters and all but Jilly accepted newcomers eventually, bonding and becoming good pack mates. Tibbe would have LOVED any other dog as that was just his way - the more the merrier with Tibbe. I think he'd have even accepted a cat - just any other social creature around was a party to Tibbe!