How and when do I introduce our two dogs? What can I do to help the older dog accept the puppy?

I have your videos on Pack Structure, Puppy 8 weeks to 8 Months, and Basic Obedience, have read your articles and tried to find this on the discussion board but have been unable to do so.

First, I am a former math teacher and have had a lot of experience with teenage boys and a normal amount of experience with dogs. Your training methods for dogs are just what I applied in the classroom. I am retired and spend most of my time with the dogs. My husband is a pack member but he doesn't do any of the training, walking or grooming. No small children or grandchildren in the picture.

I have an almost 3 yr, old neutered male Bouvier that has very low pack drive, is passive and really has no desire to please. He is food oriented but really doesn't like to play with toys. He would like to play physically by running and body slamming but this is not allowed. He and I have bonded and he does see me as the pack leader. I have control of him both at home and when we are away from home. Most of the time he isn't interested in being petted or touched but he keeps me in sight. He can be loose in the house and has never done any damage to anything. In fact, he has never even gone up our stairs. I told him no when he was a puppy and he has made no attempt since. Other than walking we do basic obedience, some agility but his real love is herding. I am learning since he will not work for any of the instructors.

He is rarely around other dogs. One of his litter mates herds at the same facility and occasionally they will play together for short periods. This consists of running and chasing with a few body slams. On the few occasions we needed to be away for a couple of days he spent the time at the breeders.

We now have a 11 week old male Bouvier puppy. (he will be neutered too). In the house he is either in his crate or in a contained play area. He is never loose and other than walking by doesn't interact with the older dog. I take them outside to potty at different times and during play time they are separated. He is a much harder dog. He is food motivated but loves his toys too.

The older dog will sniff the puppy through the crate, nose and rear end and there is no reaction from either. However, if the puppy even walks by the older dog he jumps away. I don't let the puppy touch the older dog and try to keep him at a reasonable distance. There have never been any signs of aggression in fact it seems as though the older dog goes into a play bow. I have now realized that our older dog has NEVER let his litter mate or any of the dogs at the breeders kennel sniff him in the rear, he always jumps away. Looking back I can see this was happening even when we were deciding on him as a puppy. In my opinion he never really interacted well with his litter mates. The breeder said we just saw isolated times but having lived with him for the past three years I think this has always happened.

Finally the questions. How and when do I introduce our two dogs? What can I do to help the older dog accept the puppy? How can I get the older dog to let another dog sniff him so they can co-exist. I ask because our son will be coming with his dog (the dog rules the household) for about a month and I would like them to be able to play together on a limited basis.

I want to thank you in advance for your help. The trainers I have gone to said to just force the older dog to stand there and let the puppy sniff him at will. Although I could do that it doesn't seem right to me. Perhaps it is but I think there is a larger issue at stake.

Nancy
Washington