mixing the old with the new

Question
my 8 year old bytch is trying to kill my new 8 week old one! I have an 8 1/2 year old female golden who's twin sister passed last July.  This weekend I got another golden (actually she's a Russian - golden/yellow lab mix)and my older dog has tried to kill her!  My puppy "Summer" is very playful.  My adult "Honey" is more laid back and doesn't want to be bothered. She has snapped at Summer twice.  My family is worried sick and we don't know if we should keep Summer or not.  We are heartbroken.  Honey has not gotten along with other dogs (aside from her now deceased sister, Diamond) very well in the past. She's very territorial and spoiled. Still sleeps in the bed with my son.  Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Answer
Trying to change an 8 year old will be tough.  Better leadership would help.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm  Also, see their pages on children and dogs.  How old is the boy?  With somebody the right age in the family, 4-H dog training is a great idea. In my area, clubs form soon after the first of the year.  Even many urban areas have 4-H.  For info look in your phone book under government listings for extension or cooperative extension offices.  Ask specifically about a dog or canine club.  

She is spayed?

I doubt obedience training will be enough.  It might go better if you replaced Summer with a male, perhaps a little older one.  Most older dogs aren't interested in puppy biting games.  We fight this constantly since we took in a 10 year old and continued a new puppy every year.  We work at teaching the puppy to leave the older dog alone just like the sofa pillows.  Damaged possessions are the fault of whoever was watching the puppy.  When you are watching it, immediately correct it as soon as it goes for anything except its own toys.  In a quiet, but firm voice give it an ''Ah, ah, ah!''.  Gently remove what ever and replace it with one of her toys, or if older, hold eye contact until the puppy drops it.

You can't leave the puppy alone with her.  It would be best to crate the puppy.  Other dogs may not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with.  Still your house and dog will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away.  The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  They are harder for dogs to open too.  Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys.  Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter.  Don't leave anything in the crate the dog might chew up.  It will do fine without even any bedding.  You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.