New edition

[Terrlyn]

So I got a new edition to the family, Oscar :). He's an 11 week old goldendoodle F1, and he's a total sweet heart. He is a much easier puppy than my other doodle Hurley, who is almost 2 1/2. 

WIth that being said Hurley is not welcoming Oscar with open arms. He's being very protective of his surroundings, toys, humans. I knew this was going to happen and the transition wasn't going to be easy, I'm just so sad :(. 

Has anyone else had this rocky transition and if so is there a light at the end of this tunnel? Any suggestions to keeping the peace? I am making sure I give Hurley plenty of attention, but I also don't want to encourage his behaviour. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

They will work it out. Do not intervene at all. if he growls or even snaps at the puppy, do not correct him. That's what the pup's mother did when he bugged her, too. He understands. I know it seems that the bigger dog might hurt a young puppy, but I have yet to hear of that happening. Hurley is making sure that this interloper knows his place in the pack, and they will work it out much faster and easier if you don't intervene. 

Hurley is top dog in your household until the dogs decide otherwise. I always tell adoptive families that life for the first dog should change as little as possible, particularly his "status" in your pack. That means that Hurley gets his food first, he gets a treat first, he gets greeted first, he goes through the door first, etc. Do not allow people, either family members or visitors, to make a big fuss over the puppy without first greeting and acknowledging Hurley. 

It will get better. This is a BIG change for Hurley. Suddenly, he has to share his home, his belongings and his pack, everything that he values, with a strange dog. Your attention and affection are valuable resources to your dog, and now he has to share those, too. He will adjust, and I predict that by the puppy's 1st birthday they will be BFFs, but it's going to take some time.

[Terrlyn]

Yea, we are trying very hard to let Hurley know he's first in all things. Taking the puppy pee more times a day is the only time the puppy gets more attention. I know this is so hard on Hurley. We took him to the park yesterday to let him run his heart out. The exercise seemed to settle his nerves, so were going to continue to give him that time. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Giving Hurley one-on-one time without the puppy is an excellent idea! 

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Congratulations on your new Doodle!  Karen's advice is great and I am sure once they establish who's who in the pack, Hurley will be fine and love and protect his little brother!  You must post some pictures of little Oscar:)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I couldn't agree more with everything that Karen has said.  However, it is also the hardest thing in the whole world to do.  After loosing Lucy's litermate Sophie in March we brought home little AnnaBelle in May at 8 weeks.  Lucy hated her.  I couldn't even sit on the sofa with AnnaBelle on one side and Lucy on the other.  Lucy would either snap at AnnaBelle or get up and leave.  Lucy would actually walk clear around through another room to not have to walk past AnnaBelle.  If she had to walk past her she would actually turn her head in the other direction not to look at her.  AnnaBelle couldn't touch her toys, her bones or anything.  I have to feed them separately as Lucy is still very protective of her food bowl.  However, AnnaBelle is now 21 weeks and they are doing really well.  They share most toys.  Giving treats together is fine, but feeding time AnnaBelle is still in her crate.  AnnaBelle understands not to get near Lucy because she walks clear around when heading to her crate to eat.  They play really well although occasionally a little rough.  There have been two times that I was unable to follow Karen's advice and it seriously appeared Lucy was attacking AnnaBelle.  Once over a toy and once over food.  It was very scary but no blood was drawn.  I think initially size played a big roll because Lucy really didn't know what to do with AnnaBelle as she was so little.  As she has gotten bigger she really seems to enjoy playing with her.  They can now ride in the back seat together.  The first time I went to put AnnaBelle back there with Lucy she let me know immediately that she did not want that.  The only issue that I still have (other than the food) is that Lucy and Sophie since they were puppies each had one special toy.  Lucy's is a bone and Sophie's was an ice cream cone.  Those were their go to toys.  They never bothered the other ones toy.  Lucy would walk around the house with her bone looking for Sophie's ice cream so she could lay her bone with the ice cream cone.  They were always found in the house side by side.  When Honey (our last foster) came here a week before AnnaBelle arrived I had to put those two toys up as I didn't want any fights over those two toys.  Lucy was very protective of her bone.  After Honey left and AnnaBelle was a little bigger and they seemed to be sharing toys a little better I thought one day I would give it a try and I put those two toys on the floor where they were laying.  The second AnnaBelle took one step towards them Lucy was on top of her.  (One of those times mentioned above).  So, it breaks my heart that Lucy can't have her bone, but I just don't feel I can risk AnnaBelle getting hurt over it!  :o(

[Terrlyn]

This is exactly what's going on here. I don't mind the idea of Hurley putting Oscar in his place, but Oscar is so little and fragile right now it scares me. I mean Oscar looks like he's drunk walking lol so he falls over quite easily. Hurley also has no idea how to play with someone so little, so it's a new experience for us all.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We also had an ex-pen set up in the living room which was a safe area for AnnaBelle to get to play when it wasn't possible to keep an eye on both of them.  She had plenty of room and her toys and water in her pen with her.  Because we had Honey as well for 2 months, AnnaBelle spent lots of time in her ex-pen because she and Honey would just play non-stop.  I'd have to give everyone a little rest time!