Newman was seven years old when we got Bella at five weeks old. He was jealous, but not aggressive. He did growl at her when she showed no manners by strolling over to his dish when he was eating. Never made a mark on her, just scared the crap out of her and let her know that it's not polite to pop your nose into a guy's dish when he's eating. After that all was good. Then Newman's health started failing (collapsed trachea and bad hips) so we got Noel when Bella was about a year old. We felt that this way if anything should happen to Newman Bella would have a companion. Everything worked great. Really no adjustment. Newman was now used to having someone else in the house and he liked the attention he got from the girls. And, Bella loved to mother Noel who prior to coming to us had been abused and was very timid. Bella showed her the ropes. Lastly, we just got Tia she came to us at eight months old. She's a Morkie (Maltese/Yorkie). She joined out family with Newman now being ten years old, Bella being three years old and Noel being two years old. They all adjusted as if Tia had been here forever. No break in period at all. I think Bella who is alpha growled at tia once, when Tia tried to test her by not being so polite and trying to steal her bone. Bella would gladly give it to her, but on her terms and just wanted to astablish pecking order which is Bella alpha, then Tia, then Noel and poor Newman is the wimp. LOL. Happy Holidays. Elaine |