You’ve got an older dog and are wondering if there’s anything special you need to know about raising a puppy with an older dog. Much of this is going to be determined by the temperament of both the adult dog and the puppy, and their relative ages.
Don’t Show Favoritism to the Puppy
Your older dog is used to having your almost undivided attention, or at least he isn’t used to having to share your attention with another pet. You’re going to need to ignore the temptation to pay more attention to the puppy because of how cute he is. Dogs, like children and adults, have feelings, one of which is jealousy. If you show markedly more attention to the puppy, the older dog will get jealous of this and might strike out against the puppy.
Constant Supervision
If the older dog(s) have shown aggressiveness towards other dogs, you will have to give them constant supervision when they are first introduced to each other and until the older dog(s) accept the puppy. You will most likely have to separate the dogs when you’re not able to be there or are asleep. This may mean keeping them in different rooms or areas of the house or it may mean putting the puppy into a crate for its own safety. However, prior to putting the puppy into the crate, you should exercise and play with him to tire him out. This way he learns that it’s time to rest when he goes into the crate. Show the older dog that the puppy is good and introduce them slowly and carefully.
Allow for Time Apart
This is especially important if the older dog is more than a few years old. The old dog may like to rest most of the day to recharge his batteries, while the puppy is going to want to play most of the time. Even a very even tempered dog might snap at the puppy if he is pestered too much by the puppy.
Where to Introduce Them
Dogs are territorial. If your older dog has a special place that he likes, this is where you definitely don’t want to introduce them. And, until they become accustomed to each other, you need to make sure you keep puppy away from the older dog’s special place. Dog parks are also not a good place for the first introduction, as they are too busy with far too many distractions for both dogs. Neither of them may realize that they are being introduced to a permanent pack member.
Allow the Pack Hierarchy to Be Established
Dogs are pack animals that need to establish domination and submission. If the older dog barks or growls at the puppy, don’t punish him, he’s only showing the puppy he is the pack leader. Let them tussle a bit, without letting the puppy get hurt. This helps to establish the hierarchy.
These are just some good pieces of basic information about how to introduce your older dog to your puppy. There is a treasure trove of information on this subject on the internet. Your vet will also have a good deal of information that will help you.