sheltie behaivor

Question
We took in a stray sheltie about 9 years ago. She had heart worms and vomited everytime we put her in a car.  After treatment she stayed with us, and has been a loving pet through our girls growing up and now our grandchildren.
She feed out of garbage cans for over a year that we know of, because we would see her make her rounds in the neighborhood.  She was very afraid of people (probably because everyone chased her away from their trash) and it took us all winter of heating bricks and putting them in a make-shift shelter with food and water for her to come to trust us. Hence the heart worm treatment and the happily ever after story.  My question is, our daughter who lives in CA is coming home for the holidays, she is bringing home a 10 week old lab puppy.  We have cats, and they were here when we took our dog in, so this will be the first time another animal is brought into her home and we want to do it so she is comfortable and friendly.  When we go for walks, she never leaves my side, and never goes toward any other dogs. If another dog comes in our yard, she chases them and barks.  It is the only time she leaves the yard when she is chasing another animal away.  How do we get her to accept a puppy. I'm sure she won't know it is only a visit.  I don't want to have to separate her from us, she has always had the run of the house weather we are home or gone.

Answer
Hi Shar

Congratulations on helping this dog, what a lovely story.

I would suggest meeting your daughter away from the house before she comes in with the puppy.  Go to a local park (vaccinations permitting) and allow your dog to be off lead but keep the puppy on lead.  Walk together for a time without any encouragement for them to interact - keep walking so they learnt to ignore one another and instead take an interest in their surroundings.

When you go back to the house keep the puppy on lead so he cannot bother her - he may need to be held on lead for several days when they are in the same room, until he stops trying to interact with her.  I doubt she will choose to approach him from what you have said (but obviously be careful if you feel she would be aggressive towards him).

Good luck

Lucy