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Existing Older Dog not the same since Puppy

Lesterapthorp

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Hey all.

I've been reading a lot online and getting contradicting answers (I suppose it is a guessing game) but I wanted to put my own post up with our circumstances and get everyones opinions. TIA.

Me, my other half Jade, and her dog Bruce, a 7 year old Pomeranian moved in together in March (about 6 months ago). Bruce came from Jade's mum's house with a 13 YO Jack Russel and an 8 YO German Shepard, Bruce was the bottom of the pack and is a submissive dog.

He's now been an "only child" for 6 months with constant attention from Jade and I and admittedly spoilt! But that's how we were all happy.

Whilst Jade is working part time we thought it was our opportunity to get a pup as she will have time and be home more. We wanted Bruce to have a companion and selfishly we also wanted a pup to pick up Bruce's habits and traits as we love his personality!

We bought our 10 week old Pomeranian pup back 3 days ago. Bruce actually came with us to choose. We wanted to see what one was interested in him and which one's he didn't like. He was quite overwhelmed with the angry mother and 3 bouncy puppies. We've now realised we should have taken them to bond on mutual ground rather than straight back to Bruces home but we didn't think he was aloud out until his 12 week jab!

Anyway since the pup has moved in, we've got him a crate, a pen and a gate between kitchen and lounge to give Bruce his alone time and peace.

The first day Bruce was very sad, laying upstairs instead of on the sofa with us. He didn't sleep in his bed and slept in the spare room, again upstairs away from the puppy. He growled at the pup even from the other end of the room when the pup wasn't doing any wrong. He also hid behind chairs and his personality changed, no waggy tails or smiles :(

The 2nd day Bruce improved. Could give them little treats near each other and he would grab his treat and run away but got close to the pup which was an improvement. We still got lots of grumbles and growls but we don't tell him off for it. If the pups being annoying we tell the pup off.

3rd day, another improvement. They now almost sit near to each other when doing treat training and Bruce slept on his bed for almost the whole night in the lounge where the pup crate is for the first time.

He's deffo improving but I'm scared he will never be as happy as he was before as an only child?
Since the weathers cooled down he's been so playful but now he won't play as he doesn't want to be near the puppy. But on a plus he is sleeping on the floor in his bed when the pup is on the loose so he must feel less scared of him now?

Some people I've spoken to have made us feel useless and as if Bruce will never be happy again and we've ruined his life. I genuinely feel so horrible and resent myself for possibly ruining a happy harmonious home :(

Looking for success stories similar or some opinions as to whether people think Bruce will eventually be back to his happy self again or whether we could have actually upset our little family!

Thank you.

Lester
 
Hey all.

I've been reading a lot online and getting contradicting answers (I suppose it is a guessing game) but I wanted to put my own post up with our circumstances and get everyones opinions. TIA.

Me, my other half Jade, and her dog Bruce, a 7 year old Pomeranian moved in together in March (about 6 months ago). Bruce came from Jade's mum's house with a 13 YO Jack Russel and an 8 YO German Shepard, Bruce was the bottom of the pack and is a submissive dog.

He's now been an "only child" for 6 months with constant attention from Jade and I and admittedly spoilt! But that's how we were all happy.

Whilst Jade is working part time we thought it was our opportunity to get a pup as she will have time and be home more. We wanted Bruce to have a companion and selfishly we also wanted a pup to pick up Bruce's habits and traits as we love his personality!

We bought our 10 week old Pomeranian pup back 3 days ago. Bruce actually came with us to choose. We wanted to see what one was interested in him and which one's he didn't like. He was quite overwhelmed with the angry mother and 3 bouncy puppies. We've now realised we should have taken them to bond on mutual ground rather than straight back to Bruces home but we didn't think he was aloud out until his 12 week jab!

Anyway since the pup has moved in, we've got him a crate, a pen and a gate between kitchen and lounge to give Bruce his alone time and peace.

The first day Bruce was very sad, laying upstairs instead of on the sofa with us. He didn't sleep in his bed and slept in the spare room, again upstairs away from the puppy. He growled at the pup even from the other end of the room when the pup wasn't doing any wrong. He also hid behind chairs and his personality changed, no waggy tails or smiles :(

The 2nd day Bruce improved. Could give them little treats near each other and he would grab his treat and run away but got close to the pup which was an improvement. We still got lots of grumbles and growls but we don't tell him off for it. If the pups being annoying we tell the pup off.

3rd day, another improvement. They now almost sit near to each other when doing treat training and Bruce slept on his bed for almost the whole night in the lounge where the pup crate is for the first time.

He's deffo improving but I'm scared he will never be as happy as he was before as an only child?
Since the weathers cooled down he's been so playful but now he won't play as he doesn't want to be near the puppy. But on a plus he is sleeping on the floor in his bed when the pup is on the loose so he must feel less scared of him now?

Some people I've spoken to have made us feel useless and as if Bruce will never be happy again and we've ruined his life. I genuinely feel so horrible and resent myself for possibly ruining a happy harmonious home :(

Looking for success stories similar or some opinions as to whether people think Bruce will eventually be back to his happy self again or whether we could have actually upset our little family!

Thank you.

Lester

Aaaannnnndd breathe.

The best thing you can hope for, is that they tolerate each other. Anything above that is a bonus.

But.

It's only been three days. There's nothing concrete yet. Could be that Bruce was happier as an only dog, but this could also be a temporary hiccup and he comes to love his little bro (or sis) in time. Not all dogs like or even appreciate puppies, so their relationship could improve as the puppy matures.

Make sure he has plenty of 1-2-1 time with you and your partner, and give him (and yourselves), time to adjust.

As for those saying you've ruined Bruce and he'll never be happy again. . . All I can say to that is, haters gonna hate. ;)

Pics?
 
Unfortunately this scenario doesn't always have a happy ending. ..we got a pup when our girl was 10 thinking it would be good for her but like you deep down it was for us ....Mitzy ended up tolerating the pup but never really liked her ...it was one of the biggest mistakes i made in my years of dog ownership..anyway to cut a long story short we rescued another dog when the pup was 10 mths old a slightly older boy ...they played for hours and that gave my older girl peace and quiet ....
I hope things are different for you. ..you seem to be doing all the right things by giving Bruce space....just see how it goes ...
 
Aaaannnnndd breathe.

The best thing you can hope for, is that they tolerate each other. Anything above that is a bonus.

But.

It's only been three days. There's nothing concrete yet. Could be that Bruce was happier as an only dog, but this could also be a temporary hiccup and he comes to love his little bro (or sis) in time. Not all dogs like or even appreciate puppies, so their relationship could improve as the puppy matures.

Make sure he has plenty of 1-2-1 time with you and your partner, and give him (and yourselves), time to adjust.

As for those saying you've ruined Bruce and he'll never be happy again. . . All I can say to that is, haters gonna hate. ;)

Pics?

haha, I did look back and realise what a waffle that was!

Ok great, yeah to be fair the difference every day has been good so were hoping in the next couple weeks things may keep improving.

Trying not to get down about it or Bruce will sense my sadness and blame the puppy and hate him more!

Oh yeah some pics...
 

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Unfortunately this scenario doesn't always have a happy ending. ..we got a pup when our girl was 10 thinking it would be good for her but like you deep down it was for us ....Mitzy ended up tolerating the pup but never really liked her ...it was one of the biggest mistakes i made in my years of dog ownership..anyway to cut a long story short we rescued another dog when the pup was 10 mths old a slightly older boy ...they played for hours and that gave my older girl peace and quiet ....
I hope things are different for you. ..you seem to be doing all the right things by giving Bruce space....just see how it goes ...

This is what I'm scared of. We definitely don't have space for 3 dogs!
 
haha, I did look back and realise what a waffle that was!

Ok great, yeah to be fair the difference every day has been good so were hoping in the next couple weeks things may keep improving.

Trying not to get down about it or Bruce will sense my sadness and blame the puppy and hate him more!

Oh yeah some pics...

Gorgeous pics. He does look a happy little dog. :D

Bruce will sense that you're sad, but he won't know the reason why, and he won't blame the puppy.
 
Oh, they are lovely - but are you sure your new lad is a puppy pom and not a bear cub? :D
 
See how Bruce is in 3 months ...its early days ..just make sure you give him lots of love and reassurance ;);)
 
Gorgeous pics. He does look a happy little dog. :D

Bruce will sense that you're sad, but he won't know the reason why, and he won't blame the puppy.

Oh, they are lovely - but are you sure your new lad is a puppy pom and not a bear cub? :D

See how Bruce is in 3 months ...its early days ..just make sure you give him lots of love and reassurance ;);)

Ok, so maybe I was a bit premature!! :) But its hard not to panic when your only son is so sad! The last 2 days we've made massive progress. Kept reassuring Bruce that Bear isn't a threat. Bruce more than tolerates him now but defo not best friends yet, but I feel we may get there on day! They now sit near each other, and they're already playing together! We started taking them to my mums garden so it was mutual grounds (no 12 week jab yet so can't walk) and I think it's given them time to bond out of "Bruces Manor". Bruce has full roam of the house at night time and now chooses to sleep in the lounge with the pup in his crate!

Thanks all for your kind words and advice :)
 

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Hello! Only just saw your thread and great to read your two furry babies are starting to get on. Just to say we got a cockapoo pup 5 weeks ago and it's only really been in the last week our older Jug Bugsy has started to feel a lot more settled around her. Walking together also really helped. Admittedly she bounces all over him and he is super tolerant of her, but now he really does seem to like her more. Yay!
We still give Bugsy lots of one to one attention though so he still feels loved and adored.
Love your pics too!
 

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