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Originally Posted by yorkshire_diva  Yes she does listen to come and stay. She obviously acts out when fearful, I've never seen her lung or jump at a dog who wasn't in her space. I truly believe she is just going to have to work with the new puppy. As long as the puppy has a muzzle (to keep her safe when she's aggressive) then I think it will all be fine. The puppy will be too large to be harmed, and she will teach it some dog boundary and communication skills. |
Sounds like you've got a plan set and not really looking for advice, per se. To reiterate as a general understanding, you'll have the puppy always wear a muzzle? Your current Yorkie might growl and act aggressively at the puppy, but it's okay because the puppy is larger in size and that you'll let them work it out? My question then is, do you have a plan on how to deal with the two dogs if they cannot 'work it out'. What will you do if this situation trains the to-be-larger-dog puppy to become aggressive?
From the potential puppy's standpoint, it's not really fun to join a family that she/he isn't welcomed. If the puppy has to wear a muzzle from the get-go (which doesn't sound fair to me)...it's almost like treating him/her like a chew toy without given a chance to naturally defend itself, especially since it's just a baby, no matter what the size. I can only imagine that this would lead to a bad relationship down the road.
Your safest bet may be to have your Yorkie meet with your potential puppy several times, on several occasions, on neutral grounds first, to gauge whether the second puppy is right for you and your Yorkie (rather than just have them 'duke it out' when you bring home the puppy for the first time). Really, it's preventative measures to set them up for success that you should consider...rather than expecting for the worst to come. Please also look into techniques on the best way to bring in a second dog into your home. With all due respect, I have yet to see "put a muzzle on the second dog" as a technique...
Bringing home a second dog - Dogtime How To Successfully Introduce A Second Dog Into Your Family. | Adopt a Dog | The Barking Lot