Hi,

I currently have an 18-month old GSD male. He is neutered and after a year of AKC-style training, I finally woke up and am working with an excellent trainer to bring out his long-repressed drives...

Now that trainer is also a breeder of working GSDs, many of which have gone on to get their Sch3 or become SAR dogs. I am getting a puppy from him, hopefully by mid-January. This puppy will be out of Pacer and Uhli, both Leerburg dogs... so I have no doubt he will be a handfull and very driven!!

My general concern is about introducing the puppy to my current dog, and dealing with dominance issues. I have a feeling I might get into the situation where my current dog will try to dominate the puppy originally, simply because of seniority and size advantage, but that as the puppy grow, his temperament will take over that of my current dog who, as stated above, is rather timid right now.

I'd welcome any suggestion on how to first introduce the dogs, how fast, what to watch for, how much to let the puppy get away with, etc... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

As far as "equipment", I have a fenced yard and a big dog house I built for Bandit, my current dog. Bandit spends his daytime outside in the yard, and I don't have a separate fenced in kennel. I also have a couple of large wire crates and a smaller puppy-size plastic crate.

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!

Two dogs are a lot of work (we are finding this out now). But, its also rewarding. Here are some suggestions that might help.

Introduce the dogs on neutral ground first. Let them get used to each other. See if they have problems before you put them in the same area. This way, Bandit doesn't feel like his turf is being "invaded". If the introduction goes well and they like each other, move puppy into Bandit's area a little at a time (always supervised). Try to keep it a happy, positive experience each time.

Having a dominant dog is not always a bad thing. Sometimes you have to keep those sassy little pups in line! Our GSD goes over and "whaps" the Finkie (Finnish Spitz) when she is not walking with the group. Ultimately though, you are the boss. You decide if they play fight or bark at each other or what-not. You decide if they have toys, food, whatever. Remember to assert your involvement with them both early.

You should probably finish putting a lot of time into your first dog before you get the second one. Training TWO dogs is very difficult since they distract each other. But if you have one that is already well behaved, it helps a lot.

Also, if you have someone raising the dog with you, it helps a lot. Much of the times our dogs spend apart. We try to make sure our dogs spend as much one-on-one time with us as they do with each other to prevent too much "dogginess".

Good Luck!
David C

David,

Thanks a lot for the advice!

I have no doubt that 2 dogs are a LOT of work. Fortunately, my wife is on board and willing to help...

THe puppy won't be born until mid-November, so that gives us until mid-JAnuary, but I figured it's never too early to get info!

Are both your dogs working dogs, or does it matter? I'm asking because Bandit is very low-drive right now and the puppy will most likely be a drive-demon!

At the risk of sounding sstupid, do dogs influence each other's temperament? Or is it all genetic?

Thanks again!

I agree with a lot of things David mentioned about when and how to introduce the puppy to the older dog. But I don't agree with the statement on training and the other dog being an distraction. Because they should be trained separately until each has enough training to use the other as proofing or a training distraction.

In training they don't ever have to be together you can use other means of proofing, training two dog at the same time can be unweilding and create problems within its self, things that won't happen if you trained them one at a time. Crating or placeing the other dog in a kennel when you train the other is the sensible thing to do.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Unless you just want to be stressed out. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the comments.

I’m hoping that by the time the pup arrives, Bandit will have his BH or be really close. So we will inevitably have simultaneous training (timewise) happening, but we can easily train the dogs separately (spacewise) at the club.

On the same subject but a different aspect, I was told that the puppy can’t do wrong the first couple of weeks he is at home, and that he must be protected from the elder’s dominance at all costs. The only thing that worries me in that scenario, is basically how to break it to the old guy. I don’t want to correct him for trying to play with the pup, should they get in physical contact by accident, as I don’t want him to associate corrections or anything negative with the puppy… any suggestions here?

Also, after I burn about 3 weeks of vacation and sick leave to look after the puppy… What would be the best place to leave him during the day?? A separate fenced-off kennel area in the backyard? A crate inside the house? (that would worry me as far as pee breaks!) a linoleum covered room inside the house with appropriate layers of newspaper? I’m leaning toward building a separate fenced off area in the yard, right now, but Winters in KS can be harsh, and the little guy will be here in January! That’s what I did with Bandit when he was a pup, but it does not mean it was the right thing to do!

Thanks again to all of you for the advice

And no... I don't WANT to be stressed out... if I can avoid it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I would setup a schedule like water and feed the puppy at about 8:pm take him out releive himself at about 9:30 pm. Play with him then crate him inside the house at night. At 7:00 am taking him out releive himself again. Don't forget to give a command as he pooty.

Then crate him or place him in the news papered covered linoleum floor area, inside. That way clean ups if needed will be easier and he will learn not to mess in his crate.

As for a puppy doing wrong, I agree within reason just like a human baby you want to teach him the things that he can do and stop him form doing what he shouldn't. Things that could prove dangerous to him like charging the fire place fire <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> or unwanted nipping should be stopped. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Some say that if the puppy will be a SchH dog never disclipine the puppy. I suggest making the puppy aheard to the house rules, if he going to be a house dog. Some dogs are so hyper they decide their own fate house or outside kennel dog.

Harsh winter can be hard on a little tykes, I'd let him get use to a warm cozy envirnoment before throwing him out to the wolves. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Something I MUST point out: NEVER leave the puppy alone with the adult dog. Not even for a second. (Sorry if this is something yu already know. But a lot of people don't even think aobut this.)

As far as the "leaving the puppy on the floor with newspaper". This will make house breaking all that much more difficult. Since he will be learning that it is OK to "go" in the house sometimes.

I also would not let the adult dominate the puppy AT ALL. (This is my opinion and may not coincide with the opinion of others.) Besides the fact that if the puppy is "that much" of a "wild man" he may not be able to be dominated by the older dog (which would set him up for being bitten by the older dog.) My pup would try to "take on" the adults when he was 8 weeks old. He showed NO submission what so ever. It didn't matter to him that he weighed 12 lbs and the adults were over 70 lbs.

Also something to be concerned about is that since they are both males. Even though they may get along when the pup is a pup. This may come to a halt when the pup reaches maturity and decides that HE is going to "take over" as far as being the dominant dog. Especially if the older dog doesn't think that this is going to happen.

Renaud asked - Are both your dogs working dogs, or does it matter? I'm asking because Bandit is very low-drive right now and the puppy will most likely be a drive-demon!

At the risk of sounding sstupid, do dogs influence each other's temperament? Or is it all genetic?


To the first question no they are not papered/ titled/sport/patroled trained dogs. Does it matter? Its according to if you want to show title/pedigree ceratin type working titles or just work him. There no restrains on a papered/titled pedigree dog, if he can work you can do anything with it.

But they are trained in various fields of dog training, so a more accurate question would be what level of training are they at. They both are beginer/intermediated level both have protection training, can track find and bark or bite, can do agility routines, Obedenice. One is a mutt Rottie/Pit bull.

I don't think it could change the dog temperment, temperment is built into their genetics. They either have it or they don't.

But it could change their habits. For example if a older dog is a good watch dog and challenges any stranger that tries to enter the back yard, a young dog that maybe a little reversed may start the same antics, because barking ran the person away, the quiter dog feels that his barks ran the person away also. So it scores a victory and gains confidence.

I think my younger dog learned a lot of things from being around the older dog. To the point that I tested her at 1 yr old, just to make sure she could do it with out him. She could some things better but most was not as good, without the older dog as lead. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />