Frustrated!

[calismama]

Hi everyone!

We brought a new yorkie puppy home a few days before Christmas. She was 8 weeks old at the time. She is healthy, growing like a weed, and very feisty! The problem is Cali (our first yorkie, 4 years old) has still not accepted her. For the first week or two Cali avoided her completely, would not go near anything she had touched, and was standoffish to us as well. She has gotten better in that regard.

Now she will mess with her but it's a lot of jumping at her, barking, biting, etc. Luna (the puppy) of course refuses to let Cali have space most of the time. We take them outside separately because otherwise Cali cannot use the bathroom because Luna jumps all over her, bites her tail as shes pooping, all that fun stuff. Being a puppy the rare times Cali lets her close she gets excited and all in her face so Cali gets fed up and then the growling and barking starts. There is also a lot of jealousy going on that seems similar to human siblings (lol) where when one is getting attention the other is driven mad by it.

The vet assured us this is all normal as older dogs do not appreciate the behaviors of puppies and will get better with time.

Is there anything we can do to help them bond or is this an issue that just works out as the puppy calms down like the vet says? It is quite stressful with all of the constant yapping and growling and snapping. We live in a small place so there is not a lot we can do to separate them, so currently Cali's only solace is being held or jumping up on the furniture where Luna cannot reach but Luna is currently making it her mission in life to figure out how to get up there too!

[matese]

Every time I bought home a puppy my older ones would stay on high grounds (the sofa) it took the older ones appox 2 / 2 1/2 months to stay on the floor with the new kid. You have the puppy a bit over one month, your older one needs more time. My dogs were all 3 years apart. Puppies are very active love nippy and chasing the older ones.

Make sure your older one has a safe haven to get away from the puppy.

Make her first for everything, first to be fed, first to be greeted, first to get the treat.

Your older one will come around, she just needs time. Let her go to the puppy on her time, her terms, do not force her to go near the puppy.

Give your older one a bit more attention so she feels she has not been replaced.

You will see they will be BFF

[Lovetodream88]

It took my older girl months to get used to each of her little siblings. It can just take lots of time. I know its cold but after she has all her shots walks are the best when you walk them together.

[Jkpal]

Luna is currently making it her mission in life to figure out how to get up there too! Oh gosh, that's just too funny! I can just picture tiny Luna's determination in an effort to "get up!" I agree that you should always put Cali first because it reassures Cali (helps alleviate jealousy) and it is a good reminder for Luna to know her place (and helps alleviate some of the non-stop pushiness). Neither will suffer from lack of attention, that's for sure! But you determine who gets what and when, yes? Now if only I could apply that same logic to my one and only lil' Piper-girl--talk about jealous and pushy and she's like 6 yrs old!

[matese]

Originally Posted by calismama

Hi everyone!

We brought a new yorkie puppy home a few days before Christmas. She was 8 weeks old at the time. She is healthy, growing like a weed, and very feisty! The problem is Cali (our first yorkie, 4 years old) has still not accepted her. For the first week or two Cali avoided her completely, would not go near anything she had touched, and was standoffish to us as well. She has gotten better in that regard.

Now she will mess with her but it's a lot of jumping at her, barking, biting, etc. Luna (the puppy) of course refuses to let Cali have space most of the time. We take them outside separately because otherwise Cali cannot use the bathroom because Luna jumps all over her, bites her tail as shes pooping, all that fun stuff. Being a puppy the rare times Cali lets her close she gets excited and all in her face so Cali gets fed up and then the growling and barking starts. There is also a lot of jealousy going on that seems similar to human siblings (lol) where when one is getting attention the other is driven mad by it.

The vet assured us this is all normal as older dogs do not appreciate the behaviors of puppies and will get better with time.

Is there anything we can do to help them bond or is this an issue that just works out as the puppy calms down like the vet says? It is quite stressful with all of the constant yapping and growling and snapping. We live in a small place so there is not a lot we can do to separate them, so currently Cali's only solace is being held or jumping up on the furniture where Luna cannot reach but Luna is currently making it her mission in life to figure out how to get up there too!

My puppies finally grew enough to be able to jump up on the sofa, that's when the older one / ones had no choice but to be friends.

[canana]

Everyone gave good advice
I would add that sitting them down together for daily training exercises helps a lot. Do very short sessions. Start with 5 minutes and work up from there. With time tey'll associate each other with food or treats. And at the same time, know you're the boss. But make sure you get them to work for their treats. A clicker worked really well for me.

My scottie took a month before accepting casie's existence another month to be anywhere near her and what feels like forever before they actually played together.

Just take it slow. They'll become friends!