When Should New Puppy Sleep Outside With Old Dog?

[Viclab]

OK, as of this afternoon, our 8 year old female lab, Murphy, has the most gorgeous 8 week old puppy to share with. Her "big brother" went to the rainbow bridge last month - they'd never really been apart. So far, she has ignored, sniffed, barked and growled (only once). From memory, her big brother was like this with her. The question is, will 3 or 4 nights in a playpen in the bathroom be enough before Lucca can sleep outside with her? How do we decide when it will be OK? She is a very friendly dog, but obviously this is a new experience for her. The pup is extremely well socialized and responding well to her. Subtly insinuating himself into her space in a non-threatening way, keeping clear when required. Thanks for your opinions.

[Tilly]

I think it depends on the weather and how cold it is ... my GSD was about 12 weeks when he slept outside for the first time. I had come home late and he was sound asleep in his bed - so I left him there.

My boy has a pen outside (on the verandah) that I used to put him in at night ... but after a couple of weeks - I stopped closing him in. My biggest concern was leaving him unattended with our older GSD because he just didn't tolerate the full on puppy behaviour.

[kirst_goldens]

i would agree it depends on the dog... some are more fragile then others, and i would agree with penning him outside for a while to make sure there is 100% no chance of a tiff when u arnt there to intervene

[Viclab]

i would agree it depends on the dog... some are more fragile then others, and i would agree with penning him outside for a while to make sure there is 100% no chance of a tiff when u arnt there to intervene

Thanks. The older dog is gradually relaxing and starting to play. The puppy is very resilient and persistent, so I think things will be fine in a few nights' time (and hopefully it will have stopped raining!). Luckily, he's been sleeping really well in his play pen and hardly crying at all, waiting til I take him out to pee a couple of times a night. Also I am on holidays at the moment so we're doing lots of supervised play and giving the older dog time out on her own. Hopefully soon she'll be happily sharing the kennel with her puppy brother.

[SmoothieGirl]

My dogs sleep inside, but I wouldn't leave Ren and Bronte together unsupervised until Ren was big enough to look after himself. Just this week I have started to leave them together when I go to work, prior to that Ren was in an outside section of the backyard and Bronte had the house and the other half of the backyard. Oh, btw Ren is now 16 weeks, so HEAPS bigger and about two thirds the size of Bronte already, so he can now hold his own in their play.

For me, its a question of fragility of a puppy and a much bigger, stronger adult dog. If not supervised pup could easily be hurt.

[JulesP]

Can Murphy come in and sleep with Lucca? I normally have the pup in the crate and the bigger dog loose. For some reason this night time exposure really seems to help the bonding.

My older dogs have always been very gentle with the new editions so it has been a matter of days before they are all hanging out together. The usual method of play is for the big dogs to lay on their backs whilst the pups jump all over them.

[persephone]

Two dogs outside - one a youngster? Could be some noisy nights!! shame they both can't be crated indoors at night ...then you have no worries of fights/noise

[BC Crazy]

Dittto JulesP, both my BC's come inside with us at dusk & at bed time they are both crated in our laundry. Sonny the 2.5 year old his crate, door not closed though but my 5.5 month old , Stella has her door closed. I don't hear any noise, crying or unsettled behaviour till I go in next morning. after 8 hours. They are the very best of friends & have bonded wonderfully.

[Sherlot]

both my b/c's are indoors dogs.. though at night time I crate them both.. but depending on weather, I'd be keeping the puppy inside til at least 3months, even 6months depending on maturity of dog

[Isabel964]

Mine are indoor too. Sorry about the loss of your dog - Sending vibes for these two to get on famously very soon.

[Viclab]

Mine are indoor too. Sorry about the loss of your dog - Sending vibes for these two to get on famously very soon.

Thanks, the big old boy was an amazing dog and we were very sad to lose him to spinal problems at 12 1/2.

I should have mentioned that the 8 year old has never had a nasty word with a dog in her life, she is very sociable. I waited until two nights ago, after it was clear they were happy to sit around in the sun and inside together during the day (I'm on holidays so I'm with them all the time. They are inside with us during the evening, sleeping in the lounge, and then they go out about 9.30-10pm; I get them in again at 5.45 am. The first night Lucca, cried and scratched at the back door for about 5-10 mins, and then at the side bedroom window for a couple of minutes. Then he followed Murphy's path to the kennel on the side verandah and didn't make a peep again until I went out in the morning to find Murph on the snoozer and Lucca playing with her without her complaining at all. Last night he didn't whinge or cry at all. The weather has been quite mild which is good, and they'll be fine year round in the kennel as it's well protected. So, the crating isn't really practical for us, but we seem to have been fortunate with the two dogs getting along very well together, just as Murphy did with the old dog. I'll try to work out how to upload a photo of the pup and the old dog together. Puppy is looking forward to Puppy preschool next week.