Thread: the new dog

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.