Thread: the new dog

So just in general.
A pet type dog....
If this dog is getting on, do you bring in a new pup before or after the old dog dies. Before may help the new dog learn. Or after as the old dog might be pissed with the idea of a pup around...

Depends.

I don't think a 2 multi choice answer covers the scenario well, the poll results won't give you anything substantive to go on with.
Being pack animals I don't believe the old one would be "pissed off" as such, it may have some habits of not getting along with other dogs, but no one would be able to answer that question but yourself.

If its a hunting dog, there would be raft of considerations I would take before I bring a new dog in.
If my current one is stunning in his work, has immaculate mannerisms etc etc and you have the facilities and time to look after two dogs I'd get myself 2 more dogs without a hesitation tomorrow morning.
If the current dog has habits you don't want to rub off on the other dog, I wouldn't bring a second dog in until you have the first one is up to scratch. Otherwise you'll have twice the headaches you initially had.
If my older dog is retired, I'd bring a new dog coz I need one to hunt with, and we can go on for a while....

Too many ifs....but for a pet dog, I'd go with your "heart", if you want one go for it, provided that you can look after both.

I have a new Labrador to pick up the beginning of February he will be the new apprentice to the old master for a couple of season's

The current dog is just a pet no real bad habits.
He's ok with other dogs. But has always been the only dog.
I just thought the likes of a few tricks, good habits and toilet training might come more easy to the new dog.
Nothing wrong with old dog except he's getting old.

No dramas. Exercise them together, house them separately, train them separately

I've pondered this very thing because I have an older Collie who is a family pet, must be 9+ and doing great, but I want to bring in a pup for hunting/family pet.

I know my current dog can exhibit jealousy whenever other dogs visit. She's fine socialising with others but if they come into her zone, that's when she can be a bit protective.

I'm guessing, being a pack animal, she will still need to be treated in a way so that she feels that she's higher up than the new pup and will still need to be greeted first, etc

Time will tell...

no dog should be encouraged to 'feel like she is higher up'.
you would be setting your self up for that jealousy streak to grow, a kennel or bed are not her zone's at all and you will also create a situation.
don't let them build towers.....they are dogs.

Regardless of what you do there is always a hierarchy and the old dog will be above the pup in that regardless of anything you do. Nothing you do negates a hierarchy and you only have to maintain what you always have to be seen at the top of the ladder. I definitely think a pup should come in before the old dog goes, some good common sense offered here and so long as you are happy that the old dog won't have too many habits you don;t want passed on you should be fine.

On the jealousy count, you control that. If the older dog shows any aggression or jealousy is when you step in and let the old dog know you won;t tolerate bullying or aggression to the other dog. It won;t require physical punishment, just admonishment, if the old respects your position it will get the message. Jim is right, kennel them and train them separately.

Originally Posted by kawhia

no dog should be encouraged to 'feel like she is higher up'.
you would be setting your self up for that jealousy streak to grow, a kennel or bed are not her zone's at all and you will also create a situation.
don't let them build towers.....they are dogs.

I alway thought there should be a boss. Or one higher up. I'm the boss. Otherwise if it's not clear there could be fights to see who is more high?
Train seperatly sure. But mine, the old dog lives inside. It's also his job to keep burglars out. But I guess that doesn't stop the other dog from having seperate housing.

I should add to what I said above. What i have said about jealousy only applies if they are only ever out together when you are present to control their behavior. I never worry too much about the pup, in most cases if they are being annoying little shits, which is their job, the older dog will make it well known when they are pushing their luck. There is almost never contact in this, just a big noise, show of teeth etc and the pup almost invariably pulls it's head in. However, not knowing the dogs in this case I have to put somewhat of a caveat on it. I will explain something first. In the dog world there is always a hierarchy, always a leader. It is, however, dynamic, so you don;t get it by appointment, you are only ever the leader when you are present being the leader. If you are not present, the older dog is the leader. Without going into anal detail that is simply how the pack works. So, being that a dog is just a dog, you put a lot of responsibility on the older dog whenever not present to want to engage the pup or exclude it. In your absence either answer is acceptable to it and a dog cannot think beyond and factor your feelings into things. You could leave them together and never have an issue, odds suggests that is the most likely outcome, but the small odds the old may decide to remove the threat. It really highly unlikely, but if you only allow them together in situations where you are clearly the leader you should have no issues at all.

I am going to ask a question and it's probably going to make me sound like a prat. Or even more of a prat

Can we elaborate more on this jealousy please? Last time I checked jealousy was a human emotion. Are we not confusing jealousy with guarding instinct? I can't fathom a dog getting 'jealous' because there is a new kid on the block and he/she is worried the pup is going to be better mates with the leader. As Ruff pointed out in a hypothetical situation if you are not there and the two dogs are together and the old dog killed the pup, surely that is simply again as Ruff said 'removing the threat'. Be it a strange threat. It didn't kill it out of some sense of self entitlement?

Sako 243 mentioned his dog can exhibit jealousy whenever other dogs visit. That doesn't sound like jealousy that sounds like guarding behaviour to me.

Or have I got that completely wrong?

Humanising animals is wrong...we human, they dogs...end of...yes, we all know that puppies are pleasing to us with their antics and beauty, just as a leveret or a foal or lamb...we are supposedly the highest of all species, although sometimes you have to wonder...

Originally Posted by Bonecrusher

I have a new Labrador to pick up the beginning of February he will be the new apprentice to the old master for a couple of season's

kool what colour.

Originally Posted by Andrew46826

I am going to ask a question and it's probably going to make me sound like a prat. Or even more of a prat

Can we elaborate more on this jealousy please? Last time I checked jealousy was a human emotion. Are we not confusing jealousy with guarding instinct? I can't fathom a dog getting 'jealous' because there is a new kid on the block and he/she is worried the pup is going to be better mates with the leader. As Ruff pointed out in a hypothetical situation if you are not there and the two dogs are together and the old dog killed the pup, surely that is simply again as Ruff said 'removing the threat'. Be it a strange threat. It didn't kill it out of some sense of self entitlement?

Sako 243 mentioned his dog can exhibit jealousy whenever other dogs visit. That doesn't sound like jealousy that sounds like guarding behaviour to me.

Or have I got that completely wrong?

Regardless of what name you give or anthropomorphic attribution it's an unwanted exhibit behavior. How you deal and handle it to get rid of it is what counts. There's nothing to be gained from us discussing if it's akin to human emotion or not, though dogs do possess the ability to feel happy or sad, threatened and be defensive or simply a bully that doesn't want anything else on it's turf eating its crumbs. Call it what you will. How you deal with it effectively is all that counts. The dog won't know what we call it.

Maybe jealously is the wrong word. She plays well with other dogs, even around the farm but is protective in certain situations.

Doesn't happen often, but when it does, there's a stern telling off and immediately shut in her kennel. Right or wrong, that's what I do.

Same if I catch her in the act doing something that she's not allowed. She knows and will stop that behavior or action for the foreseeable future.

John