HELP! Need Advice for New Puppy and Older Dog - Page 1

I currently have a 4 year old female GSD and just got an 11 week old male GSD puppy yesterday. I introduced them on mutual ground at a park down the street and it looks like they immediately had issues. I've never had two dogs at the same time before so hopefully I can get some advice for you guys.

When my 4 year old GSD approached the puppy, he immediately started to yell at the top of his lungs and then started with what sounded like constant puppy barking. As soon as the puppy started to yell my older dog got spooked a little and just left him alone. She tried going back to smell him a few times but everytime he started to yell so she just went about and ignored him. When we got home, I put the puppy in a crate and my older dog tried to sniff him again and he did the exact same thing but this time it was a noticeably more define bark. Again, my older dog just went on her business.

I think my 4 year old GSD is spooked or jealous now because she seems to avoid the puppy. I let them both roam the house and yard and she seems to run away from him as soon as he gets near her. She will only sniff and look at him from a distance very cautiously. From body language she is visibly unsure (maybe afraid?). She usually walks right by my side when I am in the yard but now will only sit at a distance since the puppy is pretty much attached to my feet where ever I walk. I tried giving the older the dog a treat and she took it and immediately ran to another part of the yard which she never does since she usually eats the treat immediately. I tried picking the puppy up and bringing him to her butt first and she backed away and ran immediately. Good thing is the puppy doesn't bark/yell at her much after the first night.

Should I be worried? Are these bad signs or is this just typical behavior when introducing a new dog to the household? is this a sign of jealousy?

Obviously my main concern is the well being of my first dog and it is definitely stressing me out to see her like this.

Any tips? She does go to daycare periodically so she has no problems being around dogs.

Time will work it out

The puppy is a puppy and just came to a New House...with New People...plus other things that are new to him...So many things that are new and he's unsure of himself...Give him time and support...
I always keep new dogs/puppies separated from other dogs...put them in a crate or somewhere where the other dogs can smell him and he can smell and see them but don't have interaction for a bit...
I say 2 weeks but only once out of all the dogs I've had has it taken 2 weeks or more...
Just give him time...and support...Take him outside by himself...Play with him and introduce him to new and interesting things...

~Bob~

Difficult to be sure without seeing the dogs in question 'in the flesh' but it sounds to me as if your female is simply showing the puppy that she has no interest in being yelled at; she will probably respond differently as he settles in and his behaviour towards her improves. Unless you already know that she is in any way dog-aggressive, I think you can just leave it up to her !
When you put them together - maybe leave it a couple weeks as QMan suggests - don't allow him to constantly bother and pester her. If she mildly tells him off for barking at her or trying to climb all over her, let her do so without interfering; certainly don't tell her off for it. As
Gustav said : Time will work it out.

What are your goals with the pup ?

Thanks everyone for chiming in.

@Shawnicus my goals for the pup is to just have him as a family companion. No schutzhund or competitive training at all.

I actually got him from my county's local pound/animal services so his behavior and health is pretty much a toss up. He is coming out of his shell and is exploring more and is now actively pestering my older dog. My older dog is still not herself though and I feel so guilty about it.

One thing I will add...that is I've always gone on the theory that a new dog/puppy doesn't really understand what to expect and doesn't know what attention it will get...In saying that BE SURE to give your present dog even more attention then normal...Otherwise you can create a situation where there becomes jealousy and this can lead to other problems...

~Bob~

It's wicked important to manage the greeting in a way that this does not happen, It is not a drastic deal just a setback that should have been avoided.

One thing I would try is to crate them both push the crates as close together as possible so that they can almost or can lick each other even prop an end up so the crates are literally touching. Crate your older then crate the pup then give treats in a way they have eye contact with each other each waiting for the treat one then then other inches away. Rotate praise and pets in as well. If it goes well let them sleep that way. Do the treats when they should be hungry.

You have to break the movie in your older dogs head. Its expecting all hell to break loose the second it interacts with the pup. If you can force a new beginning to that movie things should move smoother and faster. The force should be trauma less and pleasant like the treats idea above. Use the drive for the treat as nudge to allow the close contact.