Does Introducing A Puppy Change The Behaviour Of Your Older Dog?

[giraffez]

I'm very curious about this. My dog is nearly 2 and still has puppy like behaviour. He is energetic and always wants to play and gets up to no good when he doesn't get the attention.

Now that we have brought in a new puppy, his behaviour has changed completely. He is no longer puppy like and has become rather calm and gentle and no longer attention seeking. He is very big brother like and makes sure the puppy is doing the right thing. I sometimes wonder whether its really a change in behaviour or rather because we have a puppy now, we have something to compare to... but i'm pretty sure it is a change in behaviour. Having said that, he still has his energetic behaviour when he sends his little brother on a chase in the backyard with a toy.

Is this usually the case with the older dog when you introduce a puppy into the family?

Edited December 19, 2010 by giraffez

[MissMaddy]

I would say yes, definitely.

My GSD girl (now nearly 4) was quite intollerant of younger dogs jumping on her, and was quite dog obsessed when I took her out. Now I have a male GSD, and she's become a LOT more tollerant to younger dogs jumping on her, and although she gets excited when we go out and there are other dogs, she gets over it VERY quickly. I now also have an 8 month rotty, will be interesting to see how much difference that makes to her when interacting with other dogs.

She hasn't matured at all though! At 4 she's still just as much of a puppy as the other 2, and plays with them just as much as they play with her.