jealous puppy

Question
My girlfriend and I recently adopted a puppy. He is four months old. He has always had puppy habits(chewing ect). He has been very responsive to training though. He is very smart. About four days ago I took in my parents dog. She is almost seven although a lot smaller than my only 4mon. puppy. My puppy has had 4  potty accidents and he stopped that weeks ago. He is also becoming more agressive. I don't want to give the older dog back(she is much better off here) I just dont want my sweet puppy to turn mean. Please help.

Answer
With time, he may become more accepting of the new dog.  For now, you need to give him strong leadership.  Drill him in his obedience commands.  Make him walk at heel for some good walks.  You set the pace, choose where, and no stops to sniff, or short chances to relieve himself.  He must understand you are in charge, and you have the right to bring th eother dog into your home.  

You may also need to crate him when you can't watch him if you haven't been.  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.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work. Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going in. If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate. Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding time for more than one dog.


Talk to the vet about neutering him, if not already.  6 months has been the traditional time, but the current trend is to earlier and earlier.  It often makes a dramatic difference is such behaviors.  If your vet wants to wait until 6 months, don't press the issue.  

There is a lot of talk of pushing neutering until maturity, but the evidence is weak and the benefits minor.  Mostly I think it is a rationalization of old fashioned reluctance to have a dog fixed.