I have written before about our older dog biting our puppy and got many responses. (This has only happened once and we have seen no other aggression issues since) So if you are reading this and it seems familiar, thank you so much for all your valuble input. I am however, a little confused. I got advice from "re-homing" our new puppy, to keeping our dogs seperate until the puppy is older and then re-introducing them. Re-homing is not an option. I fell in love with her the instant I saw her and now that we've had her almost a month, it would rip my heart out of my chest to lose her. So that not being an option, I've been going over my other options. I am certainly not an expert, that is why I am here, but is it easier to introduce a puppy, rather than an older dog to your existing dog? Our older dog seems to do better with dogs smaller than her until she knows them. So waiting til the puppy is even a few months older, would make the new puppy as big or bigger than our older dog. So this is where I am confused.

We have been keeping the puppy either crated or in the kitchen when we are in there and let the dogs play together under supervision. They really seem to love each other and exercise each other, which was one of the reasons we got a puppy. To keep our older dog "Young". Our older dog loves to run. We live on a farm so it is easy for her to do, but there aren't enough hours in the day to keep her as busy as she likes to be. She is very motherly towards the puppy and other than that one instance, has been outstanding, welcoming the puppy into our home. I want to do the right thing here and I am torn between what I've been advised to do and what seems to make our dogs most happy. Is every case different here? Can close supervision be acceptable as long as no further aggression issues occur? I love these dogs with all my heart and only want the best for them.

I didnt see your earlier post but I am curious. When you say that your older dog bit the puppy can you more clearly define the bite? Was it a single strike(and how much damage did it do?) and thats it or did the older dog break into a full attack that you had to break up?

Our older dog was chewing on a toy, the puppy went to jump on her and she must have thought the puppy was trying to get her bone (no excuses, she was wrong either way) and she snapped at her. I was about five feet away, I told our dog no (rather, yelled as I was worried about the puppy) and grabbed the puppy within seconds of this entire ordeal. She bit the puppies face, which resulted in a scratch under her eye. This was just 4 days ago and there is no trace of the scratch now. Also, the puppy doesn't seem to be cautious at all of our dog. They play a lot.

Im certainly no expert so take this with a grain of salt. If it was just a nip and wasnt followed up with the older dog tearing into the pup then it sounds to me as if the older dog was doing a couple things. One, establishing itself as the dominant dog (at least for the time being) and 2, letting the pup know that its behavior was unacceptable.

Even bitches will nip at their own pups as they get older and rowdier to "keep them in line". If the pup seems undaunted and the two play together then it seems to me as if the pup took it in stride.

Some adult dogs are far more "forgiving" of exuberant pups than others and you will know your older dogs disposition better than me but as long as them seem to be getting along and you supervise their play time and they are just going to be your household pets then I dont see a reason to send one away. They pack dynamic is always changing and your pup will grow and future challenges may arise, just make sure to supervise their interaction and listen/watch for one or the other to get "irritated" and intercede before it escalates.

Sounds like your older dog was simply teaching the pup some manners. No real harm done, IMO. Personally I prefer to keep dogs SEPARATE from one another and have them bond to me rather than be in this situation, but since you're not of that same mindset, that's fine...

Let me ask you this; What would you have expected your older dog to do? Let the puppy take her bone? If so, does that make any sense to you? It sometimes helps to think of it that way. Keep in mind, YOU see a cute little puppy that you are so in love with. But your older dog sees a new pack member that she has to find rank with.

Wow. Thanks Larry & Jennifer. Thinking about it that way makes more sense. My kids yell when the other takes a toy, so why shouldn't my older dog feel she needs to say something when the puppy tries to take her things (I have stopped giving them toys when they are together to alleviate this in the future-the dogs that is). It does seem like our older dog is just trying to keep the puppy in line. I have been keeping them apart more often. Making sure we focus on each of them individually. The puppy is always at my feet. She doesn't miss a trick. Thanks to both of you for giving me advice on this. I am awaiting my Basic Dog Obedience video. Hopefully I'll get it soon.