So,
you’re excited to take your new puppy home. You introduce the cute fluffball to
everyone in the household but then, your older dog didn’t react the way you
expect. He may have barked or even tried to behave aggressively towards the new
puppy. An older dog attacking a new puppy can be stressful. But don’t worry
because there are things you can do to help with the transition and build a
harmonious environment for both your puppy and older dog.
1.
Establish
safe spaces.
The
first thing you need to do is to separate your older dog and the new puppy, to
keep them both safe. If it’s possible, keep them in separate rooms especially
during times of the day when there’s no one around to supervise. Think of it
this way: dogs are territorial creatures. Your older dog may feel like the
puppy is intruding on his territorial space. You need to give him time before
you can get started introducing older dog and puppy interaction.
2.
Set
boundaries
My
dog hates my new puppy. What should I do? If your older dog doesn’t seem
pleased when your puppy tries to come near, then it makes sense to set some
clear boundaries. For instance, feed them a safe distance away from each other.
Resource guarding is one reason why dogs sometimes become aggressive. Whenever one of your dogs is finished eating, remove him from the
room immediately to avoid an altercation.
It’s
also important to make your older dog feel that he is still the “top dog” in
the house. For instance, if you walk in a room and both dogs are there, try
greeting the older dog first and ignore the puppy. Greet the puppy once you’ve
acknowledged the older dog. This sends a clear message that you consider the
older dog the senior canine.
3.
Exercise
and play
An
older dog may get aggressive to puppy because he may find the young one’s hyperactivity
and enthusiasm to be bothersome and annoying. So, how can you improve older dog
and puppy interaction? Keep your puppy busy! With toys and lots of
opportunities to exercise and play, you can keep your puppy calmer, happier,
and healthier—and your older dog more welcoming of his presence.
4.
Train
them separately and together
Is your older dog depressed with new puppy? Continue spending time training and playing with him. Sticking to old routines is important to make him feel that nothing has changed. Your puppy of course could benefit from basic dog training. Crate training can help your puppy grow calmer and more disciplined. If your puppy has his crate to retreat to, this gives your older dog some breathing room and may improve his tolerance when the puppy is around. You can also engage your dogs in training games.
With the help of another person, do training sessions with each of you focusing on one dog. It’s better to do this in the yard or where there’s enough space. Offer treats if they’re able to follow basic commands. By keeping both dogs busy training near each other, you’re allowing them to get accustomed to each other’s presence without the need to make direct contact. Keep these sessions short and end them with playtime with both dogs.
Watch
out for food-based aggression during training. If one of the dogs tries to
steal the other’s treat or get tense, stop the session immediately.
5.
Create
positive associations
Is
your older dog stressed by new puppy? You can try to create positive
associations to modify aggressive behavior. For example, if your dog seems
agitated if the puppy comes near while you’re petting your older dog, you can
use try this training exercise.
·
Have someone
walk your puppy around on a leash while you pet your older dog.
·
Have the
person helping you move closer and whenever he does, offer treats to your older
dog.
·
When the
puppy is taken a little farther away and stop giving treats to your older dog.
·
Keep
repeating this exercise to help your older associate having the puppy nearby to
receiving treats and praises.
Apply
the same type of training in other scenarios your older dog seems to be
struggling with.
6.
Provide
opportunities to bond
How
to get older dog to accept puppy? Parallel walking is a good bonding activity
that can slowly ease the tension between your two dogs. Once the puppy has
completed his shots and is ready to take walks around the block, you can have
someone help you walk him alongside your older dog. To do parallel walking
effectively:
·
Have another
walker take one of the dogs. Both dogs should be properly leashed.
·
One of the
walkers should take the lead, a few yards apart, to be followed by the other.
·
Switch the
leading position after 10 minutes.
·
After another
ten minutes, have the dogs walking side by side, a few yards apart.
·
Remember to
stay calm and relaxed as you do this exercise.
7.
Consult
an expert
If
you feel that the aggression coming from your older dog is more than you can
handle, you can enlist the help of a dog behavior professional. An expert would
be able to implement some behavior modification techniques more safely and
effectively. An overly aggressive dog can cause tension and possible injuries,
such as when older dog biting puppy’s neck.
Conclusion
Your
older dog and new puppy might need a little time, some training, and lots of
supervision to be able to live together in peace and harmony. The important
thing is to remember to always give both dogs proper
care and attention. Older dogs are
usually calmer and well-behaved and in a lot of cases, they may show nothing
more than signs of annoyance or irritation around a new puppy. But some dogs
may perceive a new puppy as a threat resulting in aggressive behavior. If you
see signs of aggression or distress in your new dog, it might also be a good
decision to consult the vet or seek help from a professional trainer.
May 17, 2022 at 09:12
Pat Anderson says:
Thanks for the advice, My 3 year old dog seems to be aggressive and scared.