"Puppy-Free Zone" for Older Doodle

[Sharon, Boo & Cricket]

For those of you who have had a puppy and an adult dog at the same time: Did your adult dog have a favorite “puppy-free zone” (like a crate or a hidey spot) where they would go to escape/take a break from the puppy? What was it?

We’re adding a second doodle to our family in January, and figure our current doodle, Boo, might need a break once in a while. We bought him a soft crate (which will be off-limits to the puppy) and put it in the family room. Do you think that's enough?
Thanks much!

[Tamara & Giada]

Yes, we do have a puppy free zone, and I highly recommend you have one too. Summer's puppy free zone was our whole bedroom........we did not let Giada in there at all the first few months as they got better aquainted and Giada was house broken we started to let her in there a bit, but that is still Summer's area and is closed most of the day and Summer will let us know when she wants to get away from Giada..................she will now go under our bed where Giada can not fit anymore.

Your option might work......depends on how assertive your puppy will be with your older one. Giada is submissive, but very assertive about playing, and Summer will need breaks now and then because it REALLY gets on her nerves after a while:)

[Sharon, Boo & Cricket]

That's great advice, thank you! Maybe we'll x-pen an area of the family room and let that be Boo's puppy-free zone, along with the crate. He doesn't like being away from us, so that way he can still see us, but not have the puppy jumping all over him! ;)

[Karen Gaffney]

My Older dog has several zones where he goes for peace. He makes it clear that he does not want his little bother (now 8 months old) in them. He likes corners of rooms where he has his back protected. The both sleep in crates. Mostly they are fabulous friends but Nimbus the older one is definitely Alpha and makes the rules. The play together all day long wrestling and running...great excercise for both.
KG

[2m42srv7vi6sq]

We have never made a "puppy-free" zone because I have always found that the adult dog needs to set the limits with the puppy themselves. If they do that, they establish that they are the Alpha dog, from the beginning, and have less problems with losing toys, chewies, etc. in the future.

We have never encountered a problem with an adult dog actually hurting a puppy and we have been introducing adults to puppies since 1967.

The adults will sometimes nip or snap, at the puppy, but it is no more than a mother dog would do to teach her puppy manners.

[Christa]

Patti Cake is 4 months old and we have a 5 year old Golden Elli Mae. We have a crate in the bedroom and the living room. They love to play, but when Elli needs a break, I tell Patti Cake to "kennel up" and lead her into the crate. Ellie lays nose to nose with her, but I am sure is grateful to time to relax herself. The only time Elli has ever growled at Patti is when she had a chew toy and the pup tried to take it away. They always work it out themselves and Patti learns from her big sister. She would never hurt the pup but does need her own time and space. Good luck!! I usually pup Patti in for an hour or two at a time depending on what I am doing.

[Oliver]

We have a 7 year old chihuahua who is allowed to be on the furniture/bed with us (since she is so tiny), however, our goldendoodle is not allowed on the furniture since we don't want to instill bad behavior in a small puppy only to have it grow to be a large adult that will try to sit in our laps! So, when our chihuahua is tired of playing with the puppy she quickly runs to her couch/bed and the puppy immediately knows play time is over. The goldendoodle is very submissive to the chihuahua, so he simply understands that that's where SHE goes and HE can lay on the floor right next to the couch.

I think the soft crate may be enough, however, it really depends if your adult dog likes the soft crate and associates it as his or her personal space. If they realize it's their territory and is not a punishment (because i'm assuming the puppy will be free in the living room?) then it should work...but I sort of agree with what Gail said- let the dogs work it out themselves. Our goldendoodle knows to never even put a paw on the couch while our chihuahua is up there since that is HER safe zone.

[Sharon, Boo & Cricket]

Wow, a chihuahua that’s boss over a goldendoodle! Must be quite a sight! :) Very cute!

Thanks everyone for all of your insights! You’ve given me a lot to think about! :)