New Puppy

[Smith2698]

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Hi, could do with some advice, so we have a 9 month old Jack Russell and we decided to get another JR and so far he has been at home for nearly 24 hours and so far our 9 month old seems like a little off with it all, she won't play with any of her toys like she usually does do and the little puppy just keeps wanting to nip at her when she trys to play with him. He is playing with his own toys but sometimes gets hold of hers too. Is this normal behaviour for two dogs who have recently met and is it normal for the older dog to be slightly down about it all.

 

[Hemlock]

Perfectly normal. Rather like if your life partner came home with someone else and expected you to be friends. Especially if that someone was a toddler who made noise, messed with your possessions and kept climbing all over you.

Two terriers may or may not be friends in due course, but pups and adult dogs generally don't get on all that well until pup learns some manners. This should not be left for the dogs to sort out (many people will suggest you do this, but please don't - it sometimes ends in a dead pup). Have a place where the adult dog can escape to where the pup can't follow, and keep her toys there. Then she can choose whether and when to interact with the pup, and these interactions should always be supervised. Don't tell your adult dog off if she growls at the pup but walk between them and stop the pup annoying her, removing it and yourself if necessary. Give individual time to each of them without the other being there to begin with. Then as she knows she still gets your attention, the older dog should mellow. Be aware that with terriers especially, this isn't always the case, but when it gets to the stage where you can walk them together, it will help the relationship - but walk them separately too a couple of times a week. Don't ever see either as being "bad" or "naughty" - they are just being dogs.

 

[Inka]

. Is this normal behaviour for two dogs who have recently met and is it normal for the older dog to be slightly down about it all.

As Hemlock says yes it is perfectly normal... dogs don't 'share' they are opportunists, so the 9 month old is taking the opportunity to play with any new toys as 'hers'...no there are no mine/yours in a dogs eyes, dogs think " if 'I' have it its mine and I will growl as a warning to keep it"

Most of the interaction you seem to be having is good and your resident dog is 'setting out the rules' to the new pup and hopefully the new pup is taking notice, your resident dog is just continuing the pups learning, you just need to just be there never leave them alone as an adult dog can hurt the pup if it doesn't take notice.
Personally I carry any new pup when taking resident dogs lead walking, that way the pup is well socialised with new sounds, sights, smells before you get to the stage it is on the floor and on a lead, but I also leave the pup alone while I take resident dog/s walking too so they get my undivided one on one attention and the pup learns that it can be on its own for short periods so separation anxiety doesn't start and once the pup is able to walk on the lead I also do short walks with the piup on its own too, so it builds its own confidence and doesn't rely on the adult dog/s.

 

[Smith2698]

As Hemlock says yes it is perfectly normal... dogs don't 'share' they are opportunists, so the 9 month old is taking the opportunity to play with any new toys as 'hers'...no there are no mine/yours in a dogs eyes, dogs think " if 'I' have it its mine and I will growl as a warning to keep it"

Most of the interaction you seem to be having is good and your resident dog is 'setting out the rules' to the new pup and hopefully the new pup is taking notice, your resident dog is just continuing the pups learning, you just need to just be there never leave them alone as an adult dog can hurt the pup if it doesn't take notice.
Personally I carry any new pup when taking resident dogs lead walking, that way the pup is well socialised with new sounds, sights, smells before you get to the stage it is on the floor and on a lead, but I also leave the pup alone while I take resident dog/s walking too so they get my undivided one on one attention and the pup learns that it can be on its own for short periods so separation anxiety doesn't start and once the pup is able to walk on the lead I also do short walks with the piup on its own too, so it builds its own confidence and doesn't rely on the adult dog/s.

Thanks for the advice, so far is been 6 days and they seem to be getting along, the new pup still trys to nip at the 9 month old cheek, like its not an aggressive bite but he just wants to run back to her and nip at her, not sure if its because hes exploring like pups do with their mouths and im hoping he'll grow out of it as i dont want him to do it to the point when he might accidentally hurt the older pup by mistake. Ideally i want them to get along nicely and hopefully get to the point where they can share a bed
The only issue im having at the minute is when we put the new pup in his cage to sleep the older pup wants to go and disturb him but when she wakes him and he then wants to play she'll run off and jump up on the sofa as if she's scared by him. Cant get my head round that.

 

[Inka]

Sounds like you are doing very well already and the two are getting along after just 6 days what you discribe is OK, if the older one is going to wake him up then it sounds like you have done what you need to do, watched, supervised and allowed them to learn about each other... if the pup does 'mouth/nip' and hurt the older one, the older one will 'tell him' he has gone too far and to a point you have to allow that, the time to step in is if the older one continues to 'tell' the pup off and goes after him..... but she sounds like she has the measure of him and 'escapes' onto the sofa