Socializing an older dog to a puppy

Question
We have just purchased a 3 month old lab female to go along with our 5 yr old lab male. Our problem is that whenever the puppy gets near the older dog growls, bears his teeth an chases the puppy off. Also, the older male has become withdrawn, doesn't want to play anymore and turns away from anyone paying attention to the puppy. We have tried to give "equal" love to him and even lavish more attention on him than he normally gets, but he still seems withdrawn and "pouty". Any ideas on how to get our old "playful" male lab back and how to get them together? The puppy seems to look up to him and she follows him everywhere, but we are afraid to leave them alone and find a "dead puppy" later!

Answer
Hello, It can take anywhere from 1-8 weeks for the dog to accept the new puppy. Tell the older dog No when he growls, if he is chasing the pupyp away grab his collar sit him down and tell him no and clal the puppy back to that area. When I brought home my boston terrier to my two existing dogs(3 year old spayed labrador retriever and 2 year old neuter jack russell terrier) It took my lab about 3 to 4 weeks to get used to the new puppy and about 6 weeks for my jack russell to get used to her as well...he was also very pouty depressed and genrally unhappy but the key thing is to be sure the older dog gets the same amount of attention as it did before the puppy came home and is made feel he is still wanted as a family member. Also to avoid fights crate the puppy when your not home, never feed the dogs from the same bowlor too close together, offer only treats that will be eatten quickly to avoid the dogs stealing each others, also rawhides or any type of bone should be given when they are seperate I learned the hard way and my boston terrier could have lost her eye when my jack russell terrier tryed to take her rawhide and she trys to get it back...her eye was bitten in the white part and a few bite marks around the eye she was vvery lucky to still have her eye ever since my dogs are crated for breakfest and dinner, rawhides or any other bones such as beef knuckles or biison bones to avoid fights. Give the dogs some time they will adjust to each other.