OLDER DOG LUNGED AT NEW PUPPY

[Bev and WILLY]

My niece just called me in tears. They just got a 12 week old labradoodle puppy and their 6 year old labradoodle lunged at the pup and really frightened the new puppy.
She will be joining DK, but asked me for advice immediately, and I am in turn asking you.
The puppy is hiding behind the sofa and I told her to have her husband take the older dog for a walk and to sit on the floor and coax the puppy to come to her. But: WHAT NEXT. Thanks.

Thanks to everyone for the great advise. I'm closing the discussion as I'm sure her problem will be solved very quickly.

[Libby & Bentley]

First things first, is to help the puppy feel safe again. Have her spend some time holding the puppy, and playing with it...with the other dog out of the picture.. Then I would slowly bring them together again.

[Bev and WILLY]

Thanks. I've sent her your info

[Bev and WILLY]

Thanks. I've sent her your info

[Bev and WILLY]

DoodleKisses: WHAT A GREAT GROUP of DOG OWNERS!!!

Thanks to everyone for replying so quickly. I know she is feeling much better about the situation and has some great tools to handle it.

Bev
and Willy

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

sorry we were away today getting ready for our big day tomorrow, missed a lot of good discussions, but after reading through most of what has been posted, I would agree keeping them at a distant and slowly intorducing them in netural areas, along with keeping them both on leashes is the route I would go. I wouln't allow them together in the house off leash or outside for a few days till you can trust them, and I would still be cautious if both males or both females you may have a dominance problem, and depending on sleeping arrangements...best to crate the puppy at night time..not sure what she does with her older dog for sleeping arrangements but don't change that dogs habits. I would also give them both equal time with her and hubby so the adult dog knows he/she is not being pushed aside.

[Bev and WILLY]

Thanks. The older dog is a nuetured male and the pup a female. I know the dog sleeps with the boys and I imagine the pup will be crated.
I'm sure they will work it out, and she really appreciated all the feedback I have been forwarding to her.

[Adina P]

Bev...just a suggestion. Instead of forwarding each suggestion individually just give her the link to THIS very discussion (she can view it without membeship). Then she can just refresh the page over the next day or so and see what new ideas have been added.

[Bev and WILLY]

I will do that. And I'll close the discussion because I think her question has been answered.

[Adina P]

It most likely will work itself out and in the meantime some extra management of each dog will help. Puppies by nature can be brats. Some adult dogs take the annoyance by ignoring it or leaving the area to get away...for a while. Many adult dogs give a puppy a bit of puppy license for a while...tolerating it's brattiness. But some just find puppies to be tooo much and will immediately exert their power to tell puppy to knock it off or 'dont you even THINK about bothering me...EVER! I'm the boss here!!!'

Puppy on the other hand sounds like a sensitive soul who took it to heart and was spooked. I'd keep them each on a leash for a while and if older dog is TOO severe I would correct. Not harshly..but definitely let the dog know it is NOT okay to take charge (that's owner's job) and remove the older dog from the fun. But it's a fine line...you don't want to correct for just normal boundary setting pn the dog's part.

So while I think that creating a happy mindset in the dog for when puppy is around is GOOD. I also think a dog needs to know when they've crossed the line into YOUR territory as the boss of the house. That doesn't mean that you have to be MEAN and ANGRY...just firm and give consistent consequences.

[Bev and WILLY]

Good advise. Thanks.

[Marianne *OZZY & ZOEY]

Ozzy gave Zoey a hard time when he first met her too...I was worried but knew that they had to establish their place with each other. Ozzy is a heavy weight and Zoey is a mini...Now 9 months later Zoey is the one in charge.

[Bev and WILLY]

Yes, I guess they will work it out. I see Zoey is the boss.