Older dog and new pup-HELP!!
 

I just brought home my new baby Mango and my older female, Spanky (11 years), keeps snapping and growling at her.

I am so surprised. Until a few months ago she was used to having another Yorkie around whom she totally loved. His name was Tigger and when he died, she went into a total depression for weeks.

She has been fine now, eating better, etc.

She has never been aggressive, always sweet natured and friendly, just a lovable little bear.

Any advice on getting her to love our new little 10- week old baby??? I am keeping tiny Mango seperated in a pen which is with us in the Family room. Spanky roams freely as always..

PLEASE HELP! I am so upset at Spanky's reaction. All the puppy wants to do is play with her.... it's too sweet.:confused:

I am no expert but I also had an older toy poodle when I got Katie and she was not very happy when I brought home a new puppy. It took almost a week for her to accept a puppy bothering her and then she was fine with it. It was about 2 weeks before she would actually play with her but after that they were great together. I think the growling and snapping is probably just her way of letting the pup know that she is the boss and as long as she does not actually hurt the pup I wouldn't worry about it too much, once the puppy recognizes her as the leader she will stop. After my poodle passed away I got another puppy and Katie acted the same way, for about 2 weeks until she realized that the pup was here to stay. Just be patient and encourage them to spend time together but do it gradually. Let the older dog get used to her being around and above all make sure they have separate food dishes. Be sure you pay as much attention to the older dog as she is used to also, so she won't resent the new addition. Hope this helps a little?

Thank you so much for the replies! What you describe with your older Poodle gives me reassurance that there is a happy future for both my little bears (Tiny and Tinear..... it's actually quite funny to see this very little Yorkie growling at an even littler Yorkie, who's chasing her as fast as those teeny legs will carry her :doghop: ... )

I will be VERY vigilant about not leaving them alone together and keeping the baby's dishes in the pen with her, where Spanky the senior cannot have acess.

Sometimes the smell of a new dog can upset your dog. Each dog has it's own unique scent. When I was fostering and had to pick up a foster, the first place we headed was in the garage at the sink for a bath so the foster would smell like our own dogs. Of course they were seperated by gates in the house, but they got aquainted thru the gates.

How long has it been since the puppy arrived?

Jazzie is 9 years old and our two new pups can get on her nerves but Jazzie just goes to higher ground when she doesn't want to be bothered. We shower Jazzie with more attention than normal, trying to reassure her she is the QUEEN BEE. Jazzie has been good and tolerant with the new kids and would even play with them but she is older and needs "alone time" and definitely needs to be reassured of her place.

Make sure your older baby gets the first hello, food, petting, grooming, lap and help her be the alpha female. She will come around and learn to enjoy eachother.

All good advice; I will keep my 2 girls seperated, with baby Mango in the puppy pen.Senior Spanky Madam will continue to have the run of the house.... she owns it after all anyway ,,,(at least she thinks she does...)

Mango only came home from the breeder for the first time today.... going to be a sleepless night methinks...

BTW Corinne when I read about your little Jewel, I could so understand your devastation.... my little boy Yorkie passed away 3 months ago and I could not bring myself to look for a pup until now. Also, you should know I am your neighbor down the road in the O.C.!!!:)

This past summer I bought a one-year-old yorkie to keep my other yorkie (also one-year-old) company. I thought that Coco, the new yorkie, would be a smash hit. But Zoe was not happy. I think it was just a territorial thing. It really upset me because I didn't expect it, and it took several weeks for them to get used to each other. As others said earlier, they are just trying to establish who will be the dominant one and once that's straight, they'll do fine. My two couldn't live without each other now and it's so much easier for me to leave them alone.

The advice others gave about separating them is good. I have a small condo and would keep Zoe in the living room and Coco in the bedroom when I was at work. After a couple of weeks, when I came home at lunchtime, Zoe would come to the door to greet me and walk right over to the bedroom door wanting me to open it so she could play w/Coco. Eventually I would separate them in the morning and leave them together in the afternoon. That way Zoe had a bit of time to herself. So keep doing what you're doing and be patient. I was lucky because a lot of my neighbors with dogs would reassure me that they'd get used to each other.

I agree with everyone else that it will just take a little time. Yes, keep them separated for now until they get used to each other.

My 17 year old toy poodle had a tough time with Tinkerbelle when she came to live with us. She was all over him, and he just wanted to lay around and be loved. None of this roughhousing stuff. After a couple of weeks, they beause best buds and Tink is still looking for him in the morning when she gets up on my bed where Indy used to sleep. He's been gone for two months now and she still looks for him.

You are close!!! There's a hand full of us here in the OC! We've got to get together! On a warm day... Maybe at the Spectrum and we can go to the Bark Park after shopping!

And... Thank you for reading about Jewel and I'm so sorry for your loss.

I'm sorry Indy is no longer with you but what a wonderful life he must have had. 17 years is a long time for our little ones. Are you considering getting Tink a forever brother or sister? I hope so, when the time is right for all of you.

Yes, I've thought about it. Tink is awfully lonely but I'
m not ready for another baby yet. One day.

Yep...when I brought Truffles home, it took Vixxen about 5 weeks to stop snapping at her and start running around with her playing! I thought that was a long time! But my breeder told me it would be about that long and she was right! I kept puppy in her exercise pen seperate from Vixxen whenever I had to leave them alone. And I STILL have not allowed Truffles to sleep in our bed with us and Vixxen, not just because she is too tiny or that I don't want an "accident" in my bed, but also so Vixxen still feels like the one and only princess!!

Sounds wonderful! By the way, how do you protect your little one from being eaten by the unYorkies (better known as the BIG DOGS) , in the Bark Park :confused:

Here in Yorba Linda, we worry about HAWKS:eek: I am at the moment having a cover constructed over my dog run. Although they only go in there to pee, it is still a very serious concern. Thankfully my babies are inside all the time, but I am scared to take any chances, especially when my wee Mango is big enough to push the pet door open herself.

Sounds wonderful! By the way, how do you protect your little one from being eaten by the unYorkies (better known as the BIG DOGS) , in the Bark Park

That's what I want to know. Except I need to know for my own house. Woody is a whopping 16 lbs and Summerlin is only 2 lbs. How do I keep Woody from eating her alive!? Even when he is just playing, he seems so rough. I have never had one this small, and it scares me. Any advice?