New Puppy Not Getting Along With Older Dog?

Question

I just got a new puppy. She's an 8 week old Shih Tzu. I also have another dog who is a 2 year old Peekapoo(male). He keeps trying to sniff her and get to know her but she keeps growling and trying to bite him. She gets really mean. With humans she's sweet,soft and cuddley but with him she's mean. Does anyone know how to deal with this?

Answer 1

Give them time. It'll probably work but be sure to always put your 2 year old first. It is his home. They just have to get to know each other. Could take a few days or even a couple of weeks. Good luck.

Answer 2

JUST LET THE DOGS FIGURE OUT THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR OWN AND IF YOU WANT MORE INFO ON WHAT IS HAPPENING JUST READ THE ARTICLE BELOW.

Adding another dog to the household can upset the pack order,
and might cause dominance issues between the pets. A dog approaching adolescence may feel the need to test his place in the pack order. Some growling and skirmishes can be expected between dogs while they sort this out. There is not really any problem as long as one dog does back off or roll over, and the other does quit pushing it at that point. It should be completely bloodless, just a lot of canine 4 letter words and some pushing around while the new or maturing dog tests his position in the pack. It can sound quite scary. Sometimes the original dog will end up subordinate, sometimes not. That's not a bad thing as long as each dog accepts his place in the pack, whatever it is.

If, hopefully, you are top dog of the pack, then you do have some control over how they treat each other too, at least while they are in your presence. If the original dog wants to be dominant and is worried about his place in the pack, continue to give the original dog his full share of attention as much as you can. Or at least a bit more then the new dog. The less dominant dog can get a bit less if necessary, it doesn't have to be equal, they don't necessarily expect it to be. This will assure the dominant dog that his place is secure, and he is less likely to challenge the other dog. Things like feeding the dominant dog first, petting him first, etc., shows that you respect his position in your pack, and encourages others to do so too.

Please note: Realize that this isn't always necessary, and you will sometimes be able to continue to give your original dog all the attention he's come to expect without problems even if he is subordinate to the new dog - don't let it dissuade you from trying a second dog. The new dog sometimes DOES seem to understand that his subordinate is your favorite, and your beta (second in pack position), and can often accept it - in relation to you. It is not necessarily a true ladder of pack positions, one always above the other in all respects. This is the case in my own home. My original dog, Leilah, a 3 year old female, always backs off in respect to my new dog, Copper, a 9 year old male, as far as food, water, going through doors, etc..., in any relations just between them. But Copper does not compete with her for position in relation to me. Leilah is in a beta position to both Copper and me. He is the dominant between THEM, he is secure in that since she's never challenged it. If she bounces on him too much in play, I let him tell her off, as is his right. That they are opposite sexes does help. I just don't want people to think there will be a problem automatically upon getting a second dog, the information here is for POSSIBLE problems, and problems already occurring.

Spaying and Neutering might help also. They won't be taking out sexual frustrations and tensions on each other if they don't have the frustrations and tensions to begin with.

If other species are involved or there's a large size disparity, problems can be caused by prey drive. While training is sometimes effective, complete separation at all times when the animals are not strictly supervised is the safest thing to do, this is not something that might resolve itself in time like a pack order spat.

Answer 3

You know what I have a Shih Tzu also and she gets after my other dogs also. I started to think it was just her nature but then started feeding her last and giving her treats last. So first it's the older dog, then second oldest, then third and she is last. She finally started to learn. But now and then she feels the need to attack but not to bad anymore. Although if she dosen't stop bothering the two boxers next door no one will have to worry about her.

Answer 4

I would agree with the first answer. But it may be a breed issue as well. My stepdad has a shih tzu and shes never gotten along with our other dogs.

Answer 5

Well, my dogs were the other way around. When I got my new pup my pup wanted to play with the older dogs, but the older dogs didn't want anything to do with her. Just give them time and get down on the floor and play with both of them. It took my dogs about 7 - 10 days before they were running around playing with each other.

Answer 6

Give them time, just watch them when they are together. I bet in a few days they will be running around playing together. There is always an adjustment period when you bring a new dog home.

Answer 7

Maybe they just need some time to get on one each other, l was in the same boat with my dogs, l have 4 they have sorted each other out, and know how far they can go.
they all get on ok now, bear with it, it will sort it self out in time.

Answer 8

your new dog has to learn her place in the "pack". your older dog was there first so make sure you say hi to, pet, and play with your older dog first. then the new dog.

It will take some time but she will learn where she fits in the pack.

Answer 9

You should just let them get along for a little while.

Answer 10

shes most likly scared