New puppy - problem with other dog

[suzpoodles]

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I wonder if anyone has had a similar problem.

I'm struggling to train the new puppy because my other dog gets very upset (understatement) if I correct him. A firm "no" results in my other dog hiding upstairs - he thinks he's done something wrong. He also hides if the puppy has an accident because he knows that's wrong in the house! And there are dozens of accidents every day, despite taking him outside every 30 minutes - and I've done that for nearly 3 weeks now.

I find myself letting the puppy get away with blue murder - biting, chewing, etc - because my other dog is suffering so much. I've tried clapping my hands instead of voice correction, but that's just as bad.

I'm seriously considering returning him. My other dog isn't jealous; his nose isn't out of joint - it's nothing like that. He's scared of me right now and that's crazy. I've had him for 12 years. Maybe all this is just too much at his age? Although he's fit, healthy and usually acts more like a 12 month old!

I'm hoping someone will tell me I'm doing something wrong. I've never had a problem like this before. Thank you for any advice!

 

[gypsysmum2]

It makes me wonder why your other dog is so nervous of you? Did you train him the same way i.e. with corrections when he did something wrong? If so it could be bringing back memories of the fear he felt then.

It is now considered counter productive to correct bad behaviour, for the reasons you are discovering. It may seem to work at the time, and certainly makes us feel better, but can come back to bite us on the bum, so to speak, later on.

Any unwanted behaviour is best dealt with by prevention first, so picking up/protecting valuables and then by ignoring the dog/puppy when he does something wrong. Just as important is to pay attention to all good behaviour and reward it with attention. So, whenever your puppy/dog is lying quietly, pay attention to him. Whenever he is playing with a toy do not tiptoe around with a sigh of relief, pay attention to him. It may cause him to be naughty for a while but then you just withdraw the attention until he produces the good behaviour again. Over time the dog realises that it is much better to do good things than bad things.

House training is best done with rewarding the right behaviour and, yes, ignoring the wrong behaviour. Each time a wee or poo is produced outside it must be rewarded immediately with a high value treat. This means that you have to be there, nearby, ready with the reward. If you get caught without a treat then lots and lots of praise. Ignore the puppy until the toilet is done then lots of praise and high value treats one after the other. After a while you should see the puppy think "oh I need a pee/poop, if I go outside I get a fantastic treat!" and his behaviour will be focused towards you or the garden as he strives to achieve that reward.

Clean all mistakes with biological detergent in a 10% solution, rinse, and, when dry, agitate some spirit like white vinegar in to remove the last of the fat deposits that leave a tiny scent for the dog to over mark. Try not to show your displeasure when finding a mistake as this stores up other problems which can result in a dog being reluctant to toilet near a human because the human gets upset at the sight of it!

Could you bond with you older dog again by spending some quality time with him doing the things he likes doing without being pestered by a puppy. Make sure he can rest somewhere undisturbed whenever he needs to. I know lots of people think that dogs like living with another dog but I am not convinced that they like to share us

 

[suzpoodles]

Hi and thank you! That's all great advice.

I've had poodles for 30 years and my older dog isn't used to being an only dog; my other dog died just before Christmas. He's been very down since he lost his friend and bringing in another new dog has always done the trick in the past. My dogs are used to company. Quite what's gone wrong here, I'm really not too sure. Although a puppy is stark contrast to an elderly dog, obviously!

As it happens, my older dog came to me as a 6 month old who was already house-trained, so memories aren't resurfacing. He's obviously not used to me sounding "stern" (which I have stopped) but he'll just have to accept the accidents in the house until they cease. There really isn't anything more I can do in that respect. I don't show any emotion whatsoever when I find an accident and the puppy couldn't have more praise or treats than he's having outside.

My older dog sleeps with me (as do all my dogs) but it's still just him and me upstairs at night. I'm cuddling and re-assuring as much as I can, but he still shoots upstairs as soon as possible.

Maybe when the accidents stop, things will improve? I don't think the breeder did anything at all to start him on his way in this respect. I've had him for 3 weeks tomorrow and it's only in the last week he's stopped weeing in his bed. I've had to take up all the dog beds because he likes to wee in them - that has to be the fall out from the breeder? A lot "newspaper train" but I don't think even that happened here. I think he just went wherever, whenever.

I've come across most situations in 30 years, but have not had an existing dog react to a new addition in this way before - largely, I guess, because they're not used to being an only dog? Having another dog in the house is usually just the "norm" for them.

Thank you very much for your help! It reinforces a lot of what I'm doing and so I know I haven't totally lost the plot - yet!

 

[theanchorage]

That's a real problem and I have experienced the same thing, how about distraction techniques when your puppy is chewing or biting, you could offer a "yours" object or a game when he starts the behaviour and also perhaps start clicker training to keep his brain busy as it will be if he is a poodle, maybe your old dog would like to join the training if he is interested. I would suggest using a crate as an aid to house training although he sounds as if he is not bothered about weeing in his bed, it's only 3 weeks though even if it feels like a lifetime already and I am sure he will be worth it eventually