So we’re off to look at a Dachshund puppy tomorrow – no guarantee we’ll have him, but….

We already have a 3 year old Cavapoo at home and wondering how best to introduce/integrate them if we do decide to have the other one.

Never had 2 dogs before so a bit of uncharted territory for us.

We let them meet outside (driveway – neutral-ish territory), then let them get on with it, supervised. Puppy in crate when unattended and at night, older dog not allowed in puppy’s crate/always option of crate to escape to. Puppy not allowed in older dog’s food/bed space. Fed older dog first, separate bowls of course. Made a fuss of both. Cocker spaniel puppy and 12 yr old Springer cross. They’re mates now.

Above advice good, we introduced ours (rescue Jack Russel mongrel/ accidental Lakeland Jack cross)on neutral ground then went home. Ignored each other overnight then next day I spotted pup teeing up on older one and charge!!! They have never looked back, we let them fight which sounds and looks horrific but it’s only playing. They still do it now, pulling ears, tails, skin round throat and their favourite grabbing the other ones collar and dragging them round! The older, smaller one is still boss and they don’t cuddle up very often but life is good for them and us – just be prepared for them to sort stuff out!

Good timing on this thread. We pick up our new border terrier puppy on Wednesday. Our current female border is 11 years old, and a bit worried about how she’ll react to him. On walks she generally doesn’t like to be around the younger dogs and gives them a wide berth.

Thanks all.
Daft question – does the puppy learn routine/habits quicker from the older dog?

Probably learn habits from owners too! Ours didn’t shift until gone 11 this morning as in the motorhome, we don’t have any routine which perhaps helps, they get food at various times, exercise at various times and we don’t have them pestering at what is perceived by them as their feed/walk times. Problem free! They’re very happy just to be with us.

how best to introduce/integrate them if we do decide to have the other one.

Throw them together and kick* the older one if they complain at all.
Seriously… Don’t fanny around just get on with your life.

* Maybe not kick but make it realise that it’s not just about them.

With a 3 year old though I bet it would love some company…. It’s older dogs that tend to have more of an issue.

Oh, keep the puppy away from the older dogs food when it’s eating as that can be a trigger point.
And let the older one know that it’s still loved.

Our current female border is 11 years old, and a bit worried about how she’ll react to him.

Yep, this needs a closer eye keeping on it.

Oh, and the boy will grow up thinking he’s the boss (which he isn’t) whilst she will possibly stand her ground – so there could be confrontations for a few years 😬

5 year old Vizsla/Pointer cross (dog) and 3 year old Pointer (bitch) for me.

At first he would have nothing to do with her grumbled and whined when she laid next to him etc. Left us thinking oh no what have we done! Slowly but surely we pushed them together and then it was a eureka moment! We realised what had been missing in his life (very difficult first 18 months chewing, seperation anxiety) was a canine companion. Now aside from the 3 hours+ exercise they need a day we don’t know we’ve got them!

Sorry for waffling my main advice would be slowly but surely make sure they share toys, food, treats and attention and after a few weeks your life should become easier.

So we’re off to look at a Dachshund puppy tomorrow – no guarantee we’ll have him, but….

Ha! No one goes to look at a dachshund puppy and comes away empty handed.

We introduced a puppy Parsons terrier to our 18month old Fox terrier. The Foxie 3 months on still regularly absolutely nails the puppy. The puppy just gets back up and dives in for more!

As above avoid food and sleeping trigger points, ours sleep in seperate crates on a night. When out together they love each other for chase and rough and tumble. The Parsons does sometimes try and cuddle up to the Foxie, sometimes she lets him sometimes not.

The Foxie does like to guard / protect us from the Parsons and is stopped when she starts. Aways try and a male / female combo if you can quite often same sex dogs can fight. Although saying that we had two girls together and then two boys both of which “play” fought less than these two.

when our son and his wife came to live with us this yr whilst their house was getting built they brought their 2yr old lhaso apso, we have 16yr old westie.

Old dog set in his ways with a young pretender wanting to muscle his way in to the new home show his dominance. First few weeks there was lots of nipping and snarling from both dogs, mostly from westie not wanting to be annoyed by the youngster.

Now you cant separate them, thick as thieves were one goes the other follows

We are a week in having introduced a 9wk schnauzer puppy (girl) to our 7yr old schnauzer (boy).

She was in her crate in the kitchen when they were introduced, and they’ve been tentatively getting to know each other this last few days, sleeping for the odd half hour in the same bed, but she’s in her crate at night. He’s very even tempered so not snappy with her, but puzzled.

Take advice from the breeder or a dog trainer about how best to do it. We’ve been careful to make sure he knows he’s top dog, lots of cuddles and reassurance. Breeder has told us that he should always be higher than her when getting cuddles, and a place of his own to bug out if he wants. She should have her crate as her own space if she wants, and to make sure she gets her own time with you when boy elsewhere.

Lots of input from Mrs epic to keep them both busy, and so far so good. Take your time and they will be fine.

Picked up a second mini schnauzer pup a year after getting our first one. He came with us to see the new pup at 5 weeks old. We were lucky as same breeder. The older one was a play thing for two litters at the breeder. He also got to see his mum again who didn’t give 1 hoot about seeing him 😂
The older one was so friendly to other dogs anyway we never had 1 issue between them in their 16 and 15 year lives, and the second one was a **** to other dogs. Loved those dogs 😔

Ha! No one goes to look at a dachshund any puppy and comes away empty handed.

FIFY

not empty handed, but definitely empty wallet-ed!

All this puppy chat.

And one photo. Moderators! Ban them all except bruneep.

Agree with Joshvegas – very poor showing on the cute doggy photos (except bruneep)

Thanks for all the replies – appreciated.

So….

Ha! No one goes to look at a dachshund puppy and comes away empty handed.

Correct! We pick him up on the 4th Jan.

not empty handed, but definitely empty wallet-ed!

Unfortunately also correct…..

How does the older dog generally react to strange dogs? Unless they grab them by the throat and pin them to the floor I wouldn’t really worry – dogs soon work out a pecking order.
We had a 11 year-old Bassett hound he was always grumpy with strange dogs as a consequence of being attacked a few times as a puppy. We went and picked-up a rescue Labrador as we’d lost our previous one 5 months earlier. We chose a local park, Mrs DB with our older hound and me with the rescue Lab. The Lab who was rehomed because she was completely hyper, just ignored and ran past, too keen to explore the outdoors at high speed – the old hound just followed in pursuit. By day 2 they were as happy as Larry together.

@dovebiker he’s general pretty good with other dogs.