Can new puppies be around older dogs?

If you have friends with vaccinated dogs, or there are other vaccinated dogs in your household, then your puppy can start mixing with them at home straight away as long as they are otherwise healthy. Just remember to confirm that the other dogs’ vaccines are up to date before arranging a meet and greet. You’ll need to wait until your puppy is fully covered by their vaccines before they can meet most other dogs. Meeting dogs is a really important part of your puppy’s socialisation, so it’s a good idea to find ways for them to safely get used to other dogs while they’re young. Once your puppy is able to meet other dogs, always ask owners before you allow your puppy to approach, as it’s really important that their experiences are as positive as possible during their socialisation period. Keep your puppy close to you and on the lead when doing introductions, and watch the other dogs’ body language to make sure they’re happy to greet your pup.

Older dogs can be stubborn, they have a set routine in their territory. A new puppy can have seemingly boundless energy, this may disrupt your older dogs' normal routines. Gauge your older dog’s temperament, if your senior dog is territorial, they may have a harder time sharing. If they’re a big dog who throws their weight around, that could prove harmful to your puppy. If the older dog is a small breed, the puppy might harm them while they learn to play. Research your breeds to determine if blending them together is a good fit. Before introducing your dogs, have both of them examined by your vet, make sure that they’re both up-to-date with any necessary vaccines. Find a neutral territory, before bringing your puppy home, take them and your senior dog to a neutral location, somewhere outside like a garden or on a walk is best. Use a leash, keep both dogs on a leash with someone calm at the other end, keeping the leash relaxed and loose will help relieve their anxiety. Follow your dog’s lead, some dogs may warm up to one another faster than others, that’s okay, being patient and waiting for your dogs to make the first moves will promote a safer, more relaxed space for them to become acclimated. Watch body language, your dog will show how they’re feeling with their whole body, keep an eye out for posturing, fur standing on end, growling, or aggressive staring, if you notice this type of behavior, calmly direct their attention elsewhere. Take them home, let the dogs interact in your yard, since it’s no longer a neutral environment, moving slowly is important, following the previous guidelines, make sure that they are still comfortable with each other. Keep them apart, when you can’t be around to closely monitor their interactions, keep your dogs separated, keeping your puppy in a crate will help prevent accidents with your senior dog.

You’ll need to set everything up ready for your puppy; providing beds and water bowls for both your puppy and adult dog. These can be in separate areas to allow for time apart, especially in the early days while they’re getting used to each other. Vaccinations At a young age puppies are vulnerable to infection, so it’s important that your adult dog is fully vaccinated before bringing your new puppy home. The first meeting is better done outside in the garden or on a short walk close to home, though be sure to choose a low dog traffic area to limit the risk of infection. Have both dogs on lead and allow them to sniff and investigate one another. Young puppies can sometimes pester adult dogs, so be sure to monitor them and if games get too boisterous separate them and get your puppy to focus on you. Supervise their time together until they are both comfortable in each other’s company. It’s a good idea to have a baby gate set up which can be used to separate your adult dog and puppy if they need some time out from one another.