Introduction to new Puppy

[VanillaBean]

Given that we are getting a new puppy soon by next weekend I realised I need to ask questions before I forget.
What/how is the best way to introduce Vanilla and Honey. I have read multiple things of what people think is the best ranging from:

• Take existing dog for a walk or to a friends house, let the new puppy smell and settle for a few hours then introduce existing dog
• Meet outside in a neutral area and introduce then walk back together
• Meet in the house, by letting new puppy say hello in a controlled manner
• To let them at it in full swing etc. Not happening in our house.

OH will be at home for a few weeks still (works in education so school holidays), so we have no concern about leaving pups alone for long periods. Of course if we nip out to the shop for 30 mins, we want to make sure that there is piece and quiet.
When we got Vanilla, we gave her the downstairs lounge as hers, baby gate, crate setup etc. Of course we can’t do that now ie: give a whole room to a new dog (even though Vanilla has the whole house now). We are thinking of crate with a puppy pen, so that is OK whilst small, but how long can they stay in the pen for? As once we are both back at work, Honey would be about 10weeks old. We have sitters coming in the morning around 10am for about 30-60min.
So the typical day would be last person leaves for work at 8am, sitter comes at 10am for about 30-60min. OH would be back from work around 1pm, as she is currently on a ‘return to work’ due to injury obtained at work. Once she is full time at work later this year, both pups would be older. So we would then have a sitter come at lunch time as what we do with Vanilla now.
Concern is if the crate and pen is in the same room as where Vanilla likes to lie ie: downstairs lounge, will they play through the pen fence and/or will Honey bark to get attention.
Or would we be better of placing the crate and pen in a separate area away from Vanilla and having them in separate rooms all together?
I know I will have more questions, but these are my main one at the moment.

 

[snowbunny]

I’d say “it depends”. You’ll have to see how Vanilla is with the pup. Squidge spent a lot of time in her puppy pen until she was about 18 weeks or so, because the others couldn’t be trusted with her. I certainly wouldn’t have left them unattended in the same room, even with the puppy pen.
The same would be true if the older dog was too excited by the puppy, or if the puppy was frustrated by seeing the older dog on the other side.

There are so many variables, I don’t think there is a single right answer. You just have to play it by ear.

 

[snowbunny]

As for introductions, I would say don’t force it, don’t make it “a thing”. Mine were ok with Squidge in the garden, where they all pretty much mooched about. In the early days, this was only with one of the adults at a time. They ignored the puppy best they could, and she was very respectful of them. I think spending this time in the same environment without any pressure to interact eventually helped their relationships.
But, again, it depends so much on the individuals. I would always try to do introductions outside in a garden, though, because there is a lot less pressure than inside.

 

[Lab_adore]

I don't have any advice @VanillaBean as I've never had two dogs. But I do have one big request please. LOTS OF PICTURES!!!

 

[SwampDonkey]

Just play by ear like Snowbunny says. You know vanilla best. How is she with pups she meets?

 

[VanillaBean]

Thanks for advise

@Lab_adore yes plenty of pics dont worry

@SwampDonkey and @snowbunny introduction we will take it easy with and not force anything. We never planned on forcing the issue for either of them and want it to happen naturally. She is very good with pups out and about and I dont know if it is normal as some of the other owners have commented on it. But Vanilla gets down to their level and is as gentle as a lamb. Happy to play for a while, then once enough it is like a 'good bye' swipe and off she goes.

My concern is around having them in same room even with play pen. As it is no actual wall. I think @snowbunny you have made that decision a bit easier for me, and will put Honey in crate and pen totally away from Vanilla and put a baby gate between them. Just now have to work out where so that they cant see each other and start barking

 

[Xena Dog Princess]

You could buy a baby gate with an extension, you can extend them across open plan entryways. The only downside to baby gates is that they have to be drilled into the wall to be really secure.

 

[VanillaBean]

baby gate with an extension

Yes we have to baby gates and both with various extensions and we don't even have a baby. I am sure there is a market out there for Puppy Gates

We will be putting up baby gates, just a bit annoying given we have taken them down for Vanilla. Anyhow...
Think baby gate and Play pen will give enough distance between them both

 

[Boogie]

I have Mr Boogs take Tatze out for a walk before the pup arrives - then the pup can have an hour or so getting used his new home. When Tatze arrives home I just let them get on with it. Her reaction is always pure joy.

Zaba is entirely the opposite, he warns the pups off with growls and stiff legs - and won’t even look at them for a week.

Zaba’s approach is by far the best! When they get too much for him he can always default to ‘don’t come near me’ growls. Tatze has to be saved by me If pups get full on, every time!

I think how they receive the pup is much more down to their personality than what you do - it’s best to play it by ear, but have plenty of safe places for the older dog. Don’t worry about the pup - if they are scared they’ll dash under the nearest thing which the big dog can’t get under and curiosity soon brings them out again. That’s why I introduce inside the house - plenty of chairs and coffee tables the pup can dash under.

My two sleep in separate rooms as the pups have to learn to sleep alone.

I don’t leave them unattended in the same room until the pup is six months old - and never if I’m not in the house.

We have new rules - we can have a crate in our bedroom for the first week or so - hurrah! The next one will definitely be having one for the next one.

 

[Leanne]

I agree with @snowbunny - when we got Mas I had lots and lots of plans.

However none of them revolved around a puppy that REFUSED to be left alone (even with Leo for company) for even 2 minutes.

At 10 weeks old there was no way on earth he could have been left for a couple of hours at a time as he would have just howled constantly (and did on the occasion I had to have a shower etc)

 

[Boogie]

I agree with @snowbunny - when we got Mas I had lots and lots of plans.

However none of them revolved around a puppy that REFUSED to be left alone (even with Leo for company) for even 2 minutes.

At 10 weeks old there was no way on earth he could have been left for a couple of hours at a time as he would have just howled constantly (and did on the occasion I had to have a shower etc)

My Twiglet was like that - she even climbed out of the puppy pen!

 

[Leanne]

Unlike twiglet, Mas still isn’t a fan though

He’s fine when I leave the house now (as long as he sees my car drive off) and at night (although we will see if his sickness has put him back on that) but hates me being in a different room. When he sleeps it’s always touching me, I’m convinced it’s so it wakes him if I try to sneak out

 

[Atemas]

I think how they receive the pup is much more down to their personality than what you do

Totally agree with this. We hadn’t bargained on Sky rejecting Red when we bought her home and however we had approached this wouldn’t have made any difference. We were fortunate to have the space to keep them separate and the crate and baby gate was essential those early months. Despite all our difficulties they were sleeping in the same room by the time Red was just over 1 and whilst Sky still gives off the anti social vibes to Red, they are good companions.

 

[VanillaBean]

Thanks, we will play it by ear as that seems to be the best option. Is leaning back to what I thought originally, but just wanted to make sure as such.

Lucky that OH is going to be at home for first few weeks, so plenty of supervision. Apart for the odd hour here and there having to go, then can be kept in seperate rooms.
After that we will keep them seperate when not in for a long time as originally planned, but now more in seperate rooms.

I figured if they can see each other younger one might bark to get attention, and if in seperate rooms hopefully wont. Vanilla never barked or cried being on her own. Here is hoping same with new one.

 

[Lab_adore]

Here is hoping same with new one

I hope you didn't just jinx yourself!

 

[Charlie]

I don't have any advice as Charlie came to us at 9 months. I think just relax see how it goes, adjust your plans accordingly. You know things never go according to plan! xx Love the name Honey xx

 

[kateincornwall]

Nelly visited Reuben twice before the final visit , I don't know if this helped or not ! We just brought him in and winged it , it was fine . We had a few jealousy issues in the first couple of days, but once she realised that life would continue as before , she was fine . She actually loved her walks when he couldn't come , it was a treasured time for her , and by the time he could go out and about , she was well used to him being around , not really had any issues x

 

[VanillaBean]

Given we are getting Honey this week, something came to mind on thinking on what we did with Vanilla and our current situation.
When we got Vanilla we had baby gate downstairs lounge, so Vanilla's space was confined. She also slept in a box with us upstairs for the first week, then we transitioned her downstairs until toilet trained.
So of course now that Vanilla is older, we have no baby gates and Vanilla is now a permanent resident in our bed/room when we sleep.
It says not to disrupt your current dogs routine etc. of course we will limit this as much as we can, but my questions are:

We will use same procedure for Honey with regards to the first week of sleep, ie: box next to our bed. How would you deal with this if she would not settle at all, given that she will know that Vanilla is in there and can smell her, but unable to get close?

Also same with making a small room again, we put baby gates up, that will change Vanilla's routine.
I know we will have to train the pup with separation fairly quickly to make sure that she gets used to being on her own, but how does that work if Honey knows that there is another dog in the house. Will we have a full on cry baby or do they need to see each other, but are separate?

I know, I know loads of questions now that I have no idea about. So much easier with one originally....I am nuts. my piece is going to get shattered....

 

[snowbunny]

Suck it and see. I don’t think you’ll have an issue at night time; Vanilla will be asleep and so boring to the pup.
With separation, small increments, no more than she can handle. Squidge found it much more difficult to know that I was in another room than if I went out entirely, so see what you have with your puppy. Whether she’s the anxious sort or the FOMO sort.

So much depends on the puppy and the relationship she builds with Vanilla. Kongs for building calm separation both within view and out of view. Put a lot of effort into getting the pup hooked on Kongs, and that will benefit you down the road.

 

[Boogie]

Yes - I would give the box next to the bed a go. Or maybe a crate next to the bed as sometimes they shout and object a bit before settling?
.