Dog not accepting new puppy?

Question

I have 2 dogs about 1yr old and a stray puppy was dumped in our yard. We are keeping her. Our female dog likes her. She plays with her and is learning when she is too rough. Our male does not like her. He growls at her when she tries to play and has even snapped at her cutting her a little bit. We freaked out! He is slowly starting to play with her but he still growls. What can I do to help situation?

Answer 1

Your male dog may be trying to teach this pup some manners. You should let him. Puppies and children should not run a household. Maybe your male dog doesn't like being bitten up by a puppy.

Let your adult dogs have some peace away from the puppy. Don't let the pup bother them when they are sleeping, eating or they just don't want to be bothered. Your dogs, if they are polite, will help teach your puppy manners. If you interfere and try to make the puppy dominant over the adult dogs, there will be trouble for years, maybe as long as they live.

Here is a book which may help you out:
http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB722

Here is a site with training and behavior information:
http://www.ddfl.org/tips.htm#dog

Answer 2

You'll want to be rewarding the heck out of your older dogs (include both of them) for good interactions with the puppy. When you see relaxed behaviors from them (any at all, whether playing or not) reward your dogs with great treats. Avoid fights - make sure your aim is good. Throwing a treat that the puppy might go for will obviously cause a problem, so you may want to practice first. It's also helpful to mark the good behaviors that you see your older dogs doing by saying "Yes!" or using a clicker - I find that I can always say "Yes!" but I can't always find a clicker.
Again, avoid any reason for the dogs to fight. Be sure to separate them when feeding, and don't give out valuable chewies when they are together.
You may also want to look at Turid Rugaas' site about canine body languauge. There are a ton of articles on there that will help you to recognise the signals that your older male dog will give when he's uncomfortable. Then, you can redirect the puppy before he snaps. Good luck!

Answer 3

First, bless your heart for taking in the puppy. I think it shows great character to do something like that.

Second, your big guy is doing what comes naturally: asserting his dominance over the newcomer. Nips, growls and bites aren't that much to worry about, but if he starts to seriously hurt her, separate them. From what you've said, it seems like he's getting used to her, and that his position is firmly established.

Spend time with all three of your guys, giving each of them the exact same amount of attention. Don't permit jealousy between them: if the bigger ones start nudging her away or growling when you pet her, leave the pen, room, kennel, whatever. This will let them know that you don't appreciate the behavior. It might take a while, but they'll get the message and knock it off.

Also, separate them when they eat to eliminate food aggression. It's one of the harder things to fix in a dog.

Good luck, sweetie, and I hope that helps. Congradulations on the newest member of your family, no matter how she came to you.

Answer 4

Is he growling in as ' go away you little brat ' or growling as in ' I am going to kill you if you don't quit ' ???
Don't freak out when things happen at all you only make matters worse, it doesn't help at all, and next time they are likely to growl even louder or do more. Freaking out is like encouragement to do it more and bigger next time.
Let them play, when he is nice and friendly but keep an eye, when he looks like he is getting bothered by her, then take her / him for a walk and get them out of the situation. Maybe exercise the 1 year old more so she is less frisky and more tired around the male and he won't think of her as such a silly girl.

Answer 5

You can only start obed. training on all three dogs. You must be their leader and the dogs must learn what type of behaviour is acceptable in your pack.

This is normal hiarchy positioning between the dogs, but it can not escalate to aggression.

You need to gain control now. Stop looking at the thrid dog as a victim, you are manifesting the aggressive behaviour of your other dog.

Call a behaviourist to come in a analyze the dynamics of your crew. They will put together a plan. What you spend now in time, effort will pay off in the long run.

Answer 6

He's asserting his place as man of the house (or kennel, so to speak). He's growling to scare her, to show he's alpha. As long as he isn't doing her any physical harm, he's acting normal. You did say he was already showing signs of playing with her. This will go on for a bit, with each new situation.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Try to give them each there own space and make sure your older dog gets plenty of attention. It can help to rub a towel on the puppy, then rub it on the older dog. So, her smells the sent on him self. Also reward good behavior with treats and praise.

Answer 8

I have 4 dogs and my dogs do this stuff all the time. Sometimes it has ended in ER visits, but lately things have gotten better. I got them all fixed. They are trying to establish the pecking order. He is telling the pup he is Alpha.

Answer 9

No reason to do anything!! He doesn't want to play and as a decent dog owner you should respect that. He is teaching her his boundaries.

Answer 10

the best thing to do is to give it time and just to make sure that you are there when the male is present... he could hurt her ... hes just not to sure about her but as she grows he will in time accept her... good luck