New Puppy And Two Older Dogs

[Plak40]

Hi Everyone,

Looking for advice please?

I have two older dogs a cross Aussie Shepherd/Border Collie and a purebred Aussie. I have just purchased a new pup who has been with us for one week. He is another purebred Aussie and is 9 weeks.

Bart (my older purebred) appears to be accepting of the pup. Josh (the cross) won't have him on at all.

I have heard different stories about having three boys. Some advise you shouoldn't have three, others it doesn't matter. I have been taking things slowly, but he just won't have him on. He know's he is here and has seen him a number of times. Each time, he is aggressive.

Any thoughts please about getting Josh to accept the pup?

Thanks

[aj88]

Obviously Josh is the 'top dog'

I have the same issue. I had three girls and we recently just got a new pup. My two youngest girls (2 and 1 and a half) have accepted her fine, except the 2 year old is a bit snappy at meal times but thats ok. The 1 and a half year old couldnt care less but thats just the kind of dog she is.

My oldest is 13 and she hates the pup, new puppy wont go near her at all because she knows that she will just get bitten.

For me i find it not a big deal because i know the heirachy system will sort itself out in due course. The balance has been upset and now they have to work out who fits where now. My oldest will always be top dog and its her way of showing new puppy that this is how things work here. New puppy has worked out when she can go near gem (old girl) and when she cant. And i think now they have re-established order

Basically your dogs are re-establishing rank, this is where the agressiveness comes from. To stop this violence you have to establish that you are this packs leader. Buy a crate if you havent got one and put new pup in that, let the other dogs sniff out the new puppy. If they growl step in front of the crate and let them now that this is not tolerated. You have to show puppy that you will protect it from other dogs and show the pack leader dog that you are now the leader and will not allow aggressiveness.

But make sure you reward positive behaviour - this works better than being negative.

How long has new puppy been in your house for???

[puggy_puggy]

What exaclty do you mean by aggressive?

If Josh is just giving the pup warning nips and snarles and the pup backs away from him because of it I would say that is normal behaviour and the way that pups learn.

If Josh is the one going up to the pup and just snapping at him then this is not normal and unacceptable behaviour.

[Plak40]

Morning,

Josh is plain aggressive.

Puppy has been with us two weeks today. Yes, I have a wire crate. Haven't be game to try introductions that way yet as the puppy is so young. I don't want Josh to negatively impress him at the age of 10 weeks.

Edited January 11, 2009 by Plak40

[puggy_puggy]

Josh is plain aggressive.

What exaclty occurs?

[Plak40]

Josh sees him and wants to kill him. Becomes very agitated, barks uncontrollably, snaps at him etc. The pup is not the least bit perturbed by ths and wants to make friends with him.

As the pup is destined to be shown I am not game to introduce formally probably until he is a little bigger.

[Cosmolo]

I think you should get a professional to come out and see exactly whats going on and advise accordingly. Very risky to advise online given you have a puppy in its critical period.