Got a new puppy - is our other dog mad?

United States
January 15, 2007 8:19am CST
My first dog is the best he is a doberman hound mix and loves to play and is very well behaved. Well, my husband went out and bought me a sheltie mix a lap dog for me. My first dog is 1 year old and has been with us for 4months and is use to things. I hate having to discipline him all the time but he is so much bigger then the other dog that when they play he can hurt him if they both get over excited. Well, its been 3 days and my 1 year old is not as playful with us, rarley goes by the husband and just looks sad. I don't want him to think he was replaced. We give our 1 year old benefits like longer walks, more yard time, and he sleeps upstairs instead of in the cage at night. But I still feel he feels left out and being pushed aside. How can I this be fixed? Is this normal? After like the first month of awkardness will it all be ok?
2 people like this
22 responses
@kunalvijan (3411)
• India
15 Jan 07
i dont like pets
1 person likes this
@overtaker (207)
• India
16 Jan 07
i think ur pet needs some time to adjust to the new situation. and also he needs extra care to get out of this condition faster...try spending more time wih him and let them both be together so that they may get closer and he may get rid if his feeling
@cuttyrish (2667)
• United States
16 Jan 07
Your dog is jealous, and wants all the attention. That same thing happen to my dog too, a japanese spitz and my mom gave me a puppy. My other dog got jealous and does not do the things he likes to do, the dogs just sits in the corner. Dont worry, and wait for like a couple of days or weeks and your dogs will get used to each other. My dogs are friends right now. Just balance your time among them.
@melody1011 (1663)
• India
16 Jan 07
YOur old doggie is jealous of the new one. Its something similar to what happnens when a baby is born and then the older one is jealous cuase attention is diverted. YOu need to spend more time wiht the older one in the presence of the younger one. Its happened to me on several occassions but now my dogs have settled down. I guess once the dogs get used to each other, they will be more friendly. Have patience and soon they will be the best of friends.
• United States
16 Jan 07
Normally it takes time for them to get used to each other. If both dogs are males and about the same age it can take longer as both dogs will want to be the alpha, if the new one is a puppy then the older one which at one year old still has a lot of puppy in him should eventually get along just fine.
@circuit (347)
• Pakistan
16 Jan 07
i mad dog never barks and never turns his head.
@gabs8513 (48687)
• United Kingdom
15 Jan 07
Keep giving him the Attention that you are and he will soon realise that there will be no change when you hve been out and come in say Hello to him first and fuss him first basically always make sure he comes first Do not worry about them hurting each other when they play as they sort that I have a small Dog and my Son has a big one and they always play believe me the little ones are more feisty then the bigger ones if they do get hurt make sure you let the other one know that they have done no wrong that it was an accident
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
15 Jan 07
What are the sexes of both dogs? If they have a strong dominant character it is going to be hard for them to adjust at first. I think you are doing the right thing to make the older dog wanted. Just give him more time, until he gets accustomed to the new dog.
• Philippines
16 Jan 07
Getting a new puppy is like having a new baby. They need tender love and care too. You would give them a name that fits to them.And play with them as if theres no tomorrow.
@Wachied (123)
• Indonesia
16 Jan 07
just act your dog as a dog ...
@anabaik (206)
• Malaysia
15 Jan 07
i am not sure whether that will be ok or not after the first month. but why must you buy another dog when you already have a dog. you should buy a dog when your first dog need a friend. but it seems your first dog do not need any friends. i think you should separate them for a week, they will miss each other and they will not fight again.
• Brazil
16 Jan 07
Oh yeah, my dog is really really mad, trust me, I talked to a Vet, and she said its possible, if you want more than one dog, take two or three in one row (same age...)
• United States
15 Jan 07
I've never had two dogs, but I had a cat for 7 years before I got my dog who was about 1 at the time. At first the cat was the sulky one; but now, 3 years later, if we start to pet the cat, the dog always comes right over and trys to get some attention because he is the insecure one. Mostly it is just getting used to the new "pecking order" oncethat is figured out, things will be fine. Try doing things like greeting and feeding your older dog first, in the presence of the puppy, because this mimics how the pack would respond to the alpha dog, giving him preference. As long as the puppy doesn't turn out to be the more dominant personality, this should help smooth things over. Good Luck.
@jenalyn (675)
• United States
16 Jan 07
i have 2 dogs. The first one I got is the picture I am using as my avatar. He is the biggest baby so when we adopted another dog for a playmate, he was excited at first. When he realized she wasn't going home he became really clingy. So I decided to interact with them both at the same time when ever it was walk time, or treat time, or play time. He eventually got the picture. He sees me as the leader of the pack, so I used it to my advantage. As far as them playing with each other, don't unestimate a dog's knowledge of knowing what is too rough. My dog out weighs the adopted new dog by 60 pounds and they have played great together with no injuries. You should test that outside in a yard where you can monitor how they play and see if he knows the other dog is not able to take heavy roughness. If you yell, then he will get scared and that will make it worse, so don't freak on him if he plays too rough. Just get the other dog out, and don't scold, he isn't playing rough to be mean. My little dog rolls on her back to be submissive to him and he backs off. They will have to learn how to play with each other, it is only natural. When my bulldog starts getting rough my little dog usually handles it herself, and even though it looks like she doesn't like it, she goes right back and continues the game. All dogs are different, so I am not telling you that will happen with yours, but it is very possible.
• Philippines
15 Jan 07
Not mad!...It is called jealous!...Your dog is jealous because your paying more attentions to your new puppy!...lolz
@SageMother (2277)
• United States
15 Jan 07
Did your husband ASK about getting the puppy before he got it? Sounds, just going by whatyou said, that the husband is pretty insensitive. What you might do is relegate the care of the puppy, to the husband, since he bought it. You take care of the older dog. That way the husband deals with puppy messes....lol...and your older dog feels loved again!
@ruchiteen (135)
• India
15 Jan 07
i dont hav dog...
• India
15 Jan 07
its just normal..he ll be fine within some months..dnt worry..
@shambuca (2524)
• United States
15 Jan 07
we got our lab puppy a few yrs ago and already had a mixed breed at home- prior to that we had to put down our other lab bevause he was so sick, so our mxed breed was used to having another dog around. Anyway the mixed breed dog was not happy about the puppy, I would sit on the couch or floor and put my arm aound each one and then start playing with them, they seemed to get along better. You have to give each the same amount of attention, it's hard because one will always nose their way in trying to get more attention, the only thing i can suggest is to try to do more things together instead of giving one onger walks, they need to learn to live with each other- and when you are done with their walk praise them let them know they are good for what they did. Things will change.
@boogasmom (149)
• United States
15 Jan 07
It is a tough situation. It is just like having another baby. The jelouse will pass in time. My in laws Rottie was the same way when we brought home our lab. She hated her for awhile and then they started to play more. Like you, we were faced with the problem of the rottie being bigger. Also the rottie had issues of establishing dominance. Once our pup figured out she was the boss everything went fine. We had to spend plenty of time on the floor with the pup in our lap and the rottie right next to us. Peting both equally. Once they both figured out they were equal, things got a lot smoother.