Introducing New Puppy

[AskMyAccountant.17]

I own a 9yo male Jack Russell. I live in an apartment and daily he rides with me to the barn and interacts with other dogs (male, female, older, puppies). Aside from our daily barn trips, he travels with me a few times a month to horseshows, oftentimes with a friends’ puppy where he shares close quarters. (He’s been mine since a puppy, we’re very close)

Overall he gets along with other dogs, and will play and run with the rambunctious male Golden Doodle puppy at our barn and share space in my own apartment when a close friend brings her female jack puppy.

This brings me to my current issue. My significant other recently purchased a male lab puppy. My dog cannot stand the puppy. We DID introduce them in my boyfriend’s home. Immediately my Jack growled at his existence, to the point if the puppy wanders over to us, my jack will try to attack the puppy if we’re not watching.

At this point, the puppy will not enter my Jack’s space, so he’s not instigating or pushing him. Mine is allowed space to escape the puppy, but he prefers to sit with us. Again, if the puppy wants to sit on the floor by us on the sofa, my Jack is growling and upset.

Right now, we may overnight/see each other 2/3x a week.

I really don’t know what to do. I’m worried that because we introduced them inside/close quarters we’ve messed up. Because the other puppies/dogs were met outdoors. It’s been about a month. no change.

More about our living situation, my jack is allowed on the sofa, bed, etc. While the lab puppy is not. I don’t know if this makes a difference.

My jack is also very protective of me. He adores my significant other and friends, but in general if we’re in a car and someone approaches he is very protective.

In the past year he did have ACL surgery which I do think cause him to be more protective, and this winter he was attacked at a show by a German Shephard. (While we were walking, dog ran out from a barn and jumped on him, very scary)

SOS

[Posting_Trot]

I’m so sorry that things aren’t working out as you’d hoped!

I’m no expert by any means, but I’d say, listen to what your dog is telling you. He does not want to be with the puppy. The growling could easily escalate to a full-on fight if you’re not careful, and once the puppy becomes an adolescent, he’s likely to want to assert himself as well, which could also precipitate a fight.

I’d consult a dog behaviorist who is willing to do training with both dogs, as soon as possible.

In my experience with dogs, as an owner, once two dogs have fought once, you can never trust them again with each other.

[endlessclimb]

Our vizsla became much more reactive after her TPLO for a CCL tear. It took her over a year to be willing to play with our new puppy.

[luvmyhackney]

This is when I would crate one of the dogs and they each get their individual time.

What happens on neutral turf? Do they get along when you aren’t in the house at all? Have you tried some CBD or a behaviorist? If abnormal behavior might warrant a vet appt.

[AskMyAccountant.17]

So yes, sometimes we crate the lab puppy when I’m at my significant others.

So their only interactions are when they come to my apartment, or I go to his house. (Neither have yards) But, we will take both dogs on walks. When we go on walks, mine will not acknowledge the puppy. He won’t look at him, almost proactively turning his head in the other direction. So, yes hes not growling/attacking the puppy.

My significant other doesnt bring his puppu to my place as often, so its slightly better when we are at his. My jack may nap on the couch and the puppy sleep on the floor while my significant other works remotely and im at work. (Theyre never out together alone) So it’s more when we’re both there together.

I’m wondering if introducing anti-anxiety meds to mine would help, at least for a short time.

[Ericthegreat]

Walk them together as much as you can. Don’t ride together, just meet at a park or something, but not a dog park, of course. I wouldn’t have them at a location that’s not neutral at this point, unless you met outside, like down the street or something and walk in together.
Pup is an attention stealer and interloper. Keep them on neutral ground as much as you can. The barn is a good place because your Jack is already having fun with other dogs there.

I think this will work itself out.

[AskMyAccountant.17]

@Ericthegreat

em together as much as you can. Don’t ride together, just meet at a park or something, but not a dog park, of course. I wouldn’t have them at a location that’s not neutral at this point, unless you met outside, like down the street or something and walk in together.
Pup is an attention stealer and interloper. Keep them on neutral ground as much as you can. The barn is a good place because your Jack is already having fun with other dogs there.

I think this will work itself out.

That was really helpful, to walk in together. Yesterday I met SO and puppy outside my apartment, and acted super excited to see both, which encouraged Jack to get excited as well. Jack was ok for puppy to walk a lap around the block before we entered apartment together. It was a bit tense as we were fixing dinner, so i put mine in my room which was tough.
After dinner, Jack sat on couch with us and was civil while puppy meandered around the room.

[thatmoody]

We had to do that forever with our old dog and new dog. Once they’d walked together they were fine, but it served two purposes; calmed the pup down and got them in a proximal space without conflict. After a while (month, maybe?) they were better.

[Ericthegreat]

@AskMyAccountant.17

That was really helpful, to walk in together. Yesterday I met SO and puppy outside my apartment, and acted super excited to see both, which encouraged Jack to get excited as well. Jack was ok for puppy to walk a lap around the block before we entered apartment together. It was a bit tense as we were fixing dinner, so i put mine in my room which was tough.

Keep emotions low for a while. Be excited to see your SO but ignore the dogs and don’t direct your Jack’s reaction. Let him be, unless he gets negative.
When you said it was a bit tense, what did you mean?
Are you allowing them both on the furniture?

[AskMyAccountant.17]

@Ericthegreat

p emotions low for a while. Be excited to see your SO but ignore the dogs and don’t direct your Jack’s reaction. Let him be, unless he gets negative.
When you said it was a bit tense, what did you mean?
Are you allowing them both on the furniture?

Only my Jack is allowed on the furniture. So he will sit with us, or actually likes to perch on top of the sofa. The puppy isn’t interest (knows) he isn’t allowed on the sofa/furniture but if he comes close, even lays down on the floor, my Jack is growling (tense)

[Ericthegreat]

So your Jack is guarding the sofa. It’s HIS sofa. Pup can’t come near.

Does Jack have a bed in the room where the sofa is?

If it were me, if a dog guards a thing I don’t want them to, I remove them from their desired thing.
Take the Jack off of the sofa and direct him to lay elsewhere. No emotion, no yelling, just a firm OFF and direct him to lay in an alternate although pleasant spot where he can still see everybody.

For an example in my house, I have two GSDs and a terrier. I allow them to have cow bones. If there is a snarl, a guard, a steal, anything but bone chewing harmony. the bones are removed and placed out of reach until further notice. I don’t say anything at all, just pick up the bones and put them on top of my dryer.