2nd Dog - How long does it take for them to get along?

[Lisa Goldstein]

I have a 4 year old golden doodle who is amazing, loving and sweet.  We brought home a 2nd golden doodle puppy 3 weeks ago (actually a 3rd dog, but the first dog, a lhasa poo, pretty much hides all day). I knew it wouldn't be love at first site but we've had lots of dogs so I wasn't too worried.

Whenever I take the 4 year old and the puppy out for a walk on the street the older dog is extremely aggressive with the puppy.  Am I supposed to allow this?  The puppy just lays there taking it.  The older dogs tail is wagging and I've seen her play like this when the older dog was younger.  

Help please :)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

How old is the puppy?

[Three Doodle Life]

It took about three weeks for my 2 year old goldendoodle to get used to our new puppy. My schnauzers did a much better job adjusting but they've been through it many times before. :-)

Please be sure that the pup has all of its shots before you walk out on the street.

[Lisa Goldstein]

great thanks!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Could you help me understand a little better what you mean by "aggressive"....what exactly is the older Doodle doing?  I'm usually walking two dogs together, and I don't allow any "fooling around" between the two.  When we're on a walk they need to be focused on me and listening to what I'm asking them to do.  I do stop periodically to allow them to sniff but I stay between them with a leash in each hand.  They get lots of play time together at home or at Daycare and often it looks a little rough, but I can tell by their body language that they're just playing.  If they start to get overly excited or if there's any "real growling" I stop their play.  On a walk I need them to be behaving and focused on me....I have a reactive dog so this is really important for us.

[Lisa Goldstein]

we live on a quiet street at the end - on a cul-de-sac - so the 4 year old is running and jumping towards, with a wagging tail, or on the puppy.  i do not believe the puppy is any danger.  she just lays there submissively.  i want to make sure this is "normal" playtime.  should i stop this or let it go? 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Do they play well in the house/yard together?  It sounds to me like this is just normal play, but as Jane mentions above, I wouldn't allow this on the walks.  If you can't control the older one I would walk them separately.  It is gonna be like Monkey see Monkey Do and the puppy is going to start to think this is how you act when you go out for a walk and you are going to have a hard time leash training to walk normal.  My 5 y/o doodle hated our new puppy.  She wouldn't even sit near me if I was holding the puppy.  If I sat down beside her with the puppy she would growl and get up and leave.  She would walk around and through the other room rather than walk by the puppy.  She growled if the puppy came near here when she was eating or drinking or even got near any of her toys.  The puppy understood her message though and to this day she respects her.   It was a good 2-3 months before that started to calm down.  Once the puppy started getting a little bigger and they could play.  Now they are best friends.  

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Yes, I agree.  In the house it sounds like normal play, but on a walk you'll want more control so I wouldn't allow it.

[Lisa Goldstein]

the puppy is 14 weeks old.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I do not think your older dog is being aggressive.  He is actually wanting to play.  Was your older dog acting obediently on the leash prior to the new one joining you?  Since your puppy is still very young, I agree that he needs one on one time when it comes to training and learning to walk on the leash.  Take the time (if only 10 minutes each day), to walk him on leash without the older dog.  When you get a second dog, I do not believe it should be up to the first dog to train it.  It needs the basic obedience that you gave your first dog, and it needs to be given by you - as the pack leader in a one on one situation.   

We got a second doodle when Charlie was 2 months short of being 2 years old.  Of course, Charlie was the only "child" and very spoiled.  The fact he trained so easily and just wanted to be with us and do things with us made it easy to have him with us 24/7!  When the new puppy arrived, Charlie was not the least bit thrilled.  He would follow the puppy around the yard and when the puppy would play with him he would "accidently-haha" brush against the puppy and knock him down.  He did not want the puppy to sleep in his bed, or on "his" spot on our bed or let puppy play with any of his special toys.  It took Charlie about 3 months to realize that the puppy Beau was here -  to stay.  It is interesting how quick they get to know each other.  I never scolded Charlie for any behavior - he was just trying to keep his spot in the pecking order.  If I thought he was being a little over the top with the puppy, I would redirect him to playing ball or something to take his mind off the puppy getting into his things.  In hindsight, it was NOT Charlie who needed a playmate - I was he one that thought he should have a playmate.  They are 5 and 3 now, yes they do interact and play occasionally - but they are like children.  Each has their own personality, play styles etc.  I still do take one without the other occasionally when it is a walk, an errand run, or whatever and the other stays at home with my DH.  Always upon return, the one coming in the door is running around the house looking for the one that did not go.  Yes, I would say they have bonded!  You can do it - hang in there.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Ours were fast friends and  still are best friends, but perhaps it was due to the age difference.  Yogi was 10 months old  when we

got our second doodle, Maci.  I don't know how they decide, but Maci is the boss.  She always stood up to him from the

start, even at 9 weeks old. Your new puppy sounds like she is being submissive to your older doodle.   I guess I would just

intervene if it got rough, or seemed excessive.  Also, I agree with others, not to allow the rough play on walks.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

My boys took about a month or month and a half to get used to each other. Their personalities are soooo different so idk if that's why they took a little longer to adjust.

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

My girls got along instantly, but the puppy thought she was the boss from day one.  My older doodle was 2.5 yo when the puppy came home, and she's always been a hugely submissive dog.  She didn't necessarily submit to the puppy, but she was way more tolerant than she needed to be, and still is.  I only intervened when I felt like the play got too rough - meaning the puppy was being too rough with the gentle dog who was 4 times her size, lol.  My older one is a marshmallow and the younger one is a bulldozer, quite simply.  :) 

It does sound like your older doodle is initiating play.  One thing I've noticed with my girls is they seem to know other doodles - they love all dogs, but I'd swear they know when another doodle is around.  Maybe your girl is super excited there's another doodle in the house now, especially if your other dog isn't up for doodle play.  ;)