Introducing lab puppy to pomeranian

Question
QUESTION: I am trying to figure out if it would be ok to get a puppy. My 5 year pomeranian is not aggessive towards other dogs but he can be very jealous but not enough to bite or fight. If I were to pet another dog he may bark one or two times then try to get as close as he can to me because he wants to be petted. So what is the best way to help make it a healthly situation for my pomeranian? Thank you.

ANSWER: Chances are, the Pomeranian won't be interested in the rough play the Lab puppy will be.  Once past 3 years old, many dogs don't want anything to do with puppies, their sharp little teeth, and their biting games.  You need to teach the puppy to leave the older dog alone.  As soon as the puppy starts to focus on the older dog, give it a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and offer it a chew toy.  

Consider getting a crate for the Lab puppy.  They can be quite destructive and it helps housebreaking.  It will protect the other dog when you can't be around.  It is only natural that a puppy resists its crate at first. What the puppy wants more than anything else is to be others, you, anyone else in the household, and any other pets. In our modern society, even if we are home, other things distract us from the attention an uncrated puppy must have. The only real solution is to crate the dog when you aren't around. 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. 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, may take some work. Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going in. Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding time for more than one dog.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for your fast response. I am also concerned that my pom may start marking his territory because the puppy is there or if he has an accident. My pom is housebroken, only had maybe 2 accidents when he was a puppy. What do you think?

Answer
It is really hard to say.  I have seen questions where the older dog reacted in all sorts of ways.  If he is neutered and obedience trained, problems are much less likely.  I hope you haven't made the mistake of not obedience training him.   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.