Bringing a new kid home.....
 

So, we've been loving Sophie for a week now...she's funny & smart (& stubborn). But I need some help understanding the dynamics....

Clarence was our first, he became ours after my Mum passed away on '01, about 2 months after she passed we got Keegan (Clar was 5 at that time). Clarence is laid back & he just let Keegan takeover...Clarence will follow anyone HE just does NOT want to be the leader. Keegan is very attached to me but has gotten more independant over the years.

Last Sunday in comes Little Miss Sophie (she only 9 months old) & all hell breaks loose! Sophie wants to boss Keegan, Keegan wants to boss Sophie...Clarence just puts his paws up & says..."if y'all need us, Duncan & I will be in the foyer in our 'bed'. " (Duncan is a cat!).

Most of these skirmishes happen when I'm near them...they don't act out as much when Kevin is around. Do I have a weak chi?

Keegan has gotten real clingy & wants to be in my lap alot.

Sophie wants to play with Keegan & he gets all submissive but won't really play with her.

Is this back & forth typical? Is there something I should be doing or not doing? I'm open to any suggestions.

me too!
 

I'm really interested to read the replies to this.....I'm bringing a new pup home in a few weeks and I'm wondering how it's all going to work out too! xxx

LOL No help here. I've never had that problem. Actually my 11 year old shih tzu is fantastic with the pup, and the pup and my 6 year old yorkie are always going after Fritz(my only male). They love picking on the little guy. I really should have gotten another boy to help Fritz out instead of getting another female.:)

Boo was great when we brought Gracie Ruth home. They ran and played all day long. Boo was very forgiving of G's puppy attitude and always very gentle with her. Yogi comes in 7 months later and Boo wanted nothing to do with him at first. Would growl a warning to stay away and even stopped playing with G because now she and Yogi played together. It was a slow process, but now Boo's interacting with Yogi more and not so grumpy. What we did was 3 fold.
1) Boo was not allowed to growl at Yogi for no reason. If Yogi was pestering Boo and Boo was saying no, one growl was allowed and we stepped in to put a stop to Yogi's pestering. Boo is not allowed to growl just because Yogi wants to sit with him and Daddy or for any other reason. Yogi is not allowed to bully Boo or G. If they don't want to play or he's playing too rough we put a stop to it.
2) We get down on the floor and play with all three and encourage and praise Boo when he does join in and play.
3) Walking together as a pack.

I've noticed in the last month or so, Boo initiating play with Yogi and G is starting to play again with Boo. It's been a slow process but progress is happening. I've high hopes as Yogi continues to mature that he and Boo will interact more and more.

Zeke a 5year old Lhasa Apso (my first born lol) was having his fifth birthday. What to I give him as a present???? A 13 week old yorkie brother! I thought it was the most magnificent gift ever. (ya right, for me maybe lol)
Zeke took one look at his gift and growled the worse I had ever heard. Then he left the room. (well that went over well)
Later that night as the baby was running through the living room, past Zeke, who grabbed Baxter by the neck growling. I thought he was having a $1200 snack! (Oh my!!!)
So having to buy a gate playpen for Baxter and keeping him in one room, so Zeke wouldn't kill him, my problem was a big one, I really didn't think I was going to be able to keep the baby. Well a month went buy and Zeke REFUSED!!! to walk into a room where the puppy was, Absolutely Refused. Nothing we did would get him into the same room with Baxter. And Baxter omg whenever he saw Zeke all he wanted to do was play, jump, bark, etc. all that cute puppy stuff.
3 months went buy, and Zeke would finally come into the same room, it was killing him that the puppy was getting attention and he wasn't. The green monster was getting the best of Zeke!. He would come into the same room, BUT!!! made a point to always look in the opposite direction from where Baxter was. Determination from Baxter won over, Him and Zeke now play like they are the brothers they were ment to be, and I do believe that one time I heard Zeke tell me that he was happy for his birthday present. Whew!
Even still when Baxter gets cuddly and wants some loves, The green monster still comes over Zeke, and he has to be in my lap too.!!
I am sure glad I didn't get two puppies.
So it will all work out, eventually.. Just be patient and give each one their own time with you.
GOOD LUCK :D