[ItsButters]

Hi,

Our yorkie Butters is 5 months old (not neutered yet but I'll get to that later). Yesterday we rescued a 9 week Peekapoo from a shelter. She's very sweet and affectionate and I believe she has been socialized better since she was always around other puppies. Butters, however, is not having it. First he kept sniffing her out of curiosity, then he would pounce on her, growl, run across the room right into her, basically just calling out that he wanted to assert himself. He's never been attached to my father for instance, but when my dad picked up the new puppy, Butters started jumping on him too for the first time, like he wanted all the attention. I've resorted to keeping them separated-- Butters slept on the bed for the first time last night while I kept the new puppy in a laundry basket right next to me so that she wouldn't cry. I think today I'll have to go out and buy a crate for her. Now I'm also considering neutering Butters sooner than I thought because I've just never seen this side of aggression from him before. What should I do to assure him that he's still the alpha dog? I've read that I should feed him first before I feed the new puppy, take him on walks so that he tires himself out faster and has less energy/aggression back home, also take them on walks together to bond, etc. I'm also worried about when I'm gone-- should I keep them separated while I'm at work too?