Dog Tips

My dog ​​won't accept the new puppy.

admin • 26 Jul 2023

If you like dogs, it is normal that at some point, even if you already have a four-legged friend, you decide to have a puppy. However, cohabitation can be problematic and the adult dog may reject the young if they are not presented correctly.

In this article we will help those who have asked us my dog ​​will not accept the new puppy , what can I do?

 Remember that in serious cases, such as fear or aggression, it is good to go to a dog educator.

 Why doesn't my dog ​​accept the new puppy?

Before bringing a puppy home, you will need to consider a few factors to ensure that you can live together smoothly; otherwise behavioral problems will start to arise, especially in the case of the adult dog that does not accept the newcomer. .

Some important factors to consider when taking in a second dog are:

• Socialization Dogs that have not been properly socialized by puppies tend to be very fearful and therefore aggressive towards other dogs. If the adult dog has not been properly socialized, she may not understand dog body language and therefore may not be able to communicate properly or may even mistake the puppy's playful attitudes for offensive or defiant behavior. If your dog is often aggressive towards other adult dogs on walks, chances are he is aggressive towards puppies as well.

• The degree of activity of the dog Adult dogs are not as playful as puppies and some like to play only at specific times. Introducing a hyperactive and playful puppy can upset the adult dog, who would like to be calm and relaxed on his behalf. The pup's constant seeking of affection and playtime can annoy the veteran, who may become so upset that he bites or hurts the pup.

• Elderly Dogs If the adult dog is old, it will probably have some health problems or general pain. If the puppy approaches the dog and accidentally touches it where it is in pain, it is normal for the puppy to reject it.

• The presentation of the animals Even if it is a young and very sociable dog, which does not suffer any pain, it is possible that in any case they do not get along because they have not been presented correctly. As is the case with us humans, dogs may not get along with others like them. Before you adopt your dog, you should introduce them to see how they interact.

How to introduce the adult dog and the puppy

Correctly introducing an adult dog and a puppy is essential to ensure that they live together peacefully. For this reason, our advice is to introduce them to a neutral zone and plan several meetings and long, quiet walks during which you can smell, relax and get to know each other better. Never force them to interact, and pay attention to scolding and punishment, because they can be associated with a negative experience.

You can include games and exercises to introduce them, but avoid games and snacks because they could make them fight. After you have met in sessions of this type, you can take your puppy home, where you will already have everything ready : two or three kennels, water bowls for food, games, etc… Make sure you have enough for both of you to prevent them from fighting.

Never try to establish a Hierarchy well, the dogs will do it themselves. Also avoid paying too much attention to the puppy and neglecting the veteran - you'll need to treat the adult dog and the puppy the same.

The first days when you leave them alone in the house you should avoid at all costs any stimulus that could lead them to fight, especially if it involves games or food. You will need to leave them water and kennels and if you suspect there is tension between them, keep them in two separate rooms to ensure nothing unpleasant happens.

The adult dog growls at the puppy and is aggressive: why?

Dogs can get along at first, but then they stop and start refusing. The reasons why the adult dog growls at the puppy and is aggressive towards him can be many and we will briefly summarize them below.

• Aggressiveness for pain It is normal in older dogs, those that have been injured or have had a serious illness. However, even if they are not in pain, they often complain when you get too close to certain parts of the body.

• Disease Aggression Diseases, such as hypothyroidism, are common causes of aggression in dogs, so it may be a good idea to have them examined by your veterinarian before you begin correcting behavior problems.

• Dominance or hierarchical aggression : it is common among dogs of the same sex. Also, if it occurs between non-neutered male dogs, it is normal to see them fighting in the presence of a female, especially if they are in heat. They may show jealousy and possessiveness towards food, resting places or the teacher.

• Fear Aggression Fear can be genetic, but it is also characteristic of dogs that have had socialization problems or trauma in the past. Even if at first fear makes them run away or move away, if they see that this is not possible they begin to show offensive behaviors such as attacking, growling or marking their territory.

• Territorial aggressiveness This type of aggressiveness is very frequent and appears when the dogs have not presented themselves correctly before receiving the second dog in the house.

• Protection of resources We mentioned it before and it is a problem that appears when a dog protects something that it considers its own. In general, if the dog does not accept the new puppy, he may have jealousy and territorial issues that include kennels, games, bowls or even people and other animals.

• Predatory Aggression It occurs when one dog is much smaller than the other, so it is considered as prey. You will notice a very precise behavior, which is the sequence of the hunt that includes following a trail, ambushing, capturing. You will recognize why the dog moves slowly, as if he were hunting.