new puppy, older dog

Question
I have a 6 year old female border collie.  She is VERY aggressive towards other dogs.  She tolerates our cat to a degree but even after 6 years they still fight on occasion, but she has never hurt the cat.  For Christmas I was given a 6 week old yorkie puppy.  She is only 1 pound.  They have sniffed eachother through a baby gate and our Collie has shown aggression towards the barking puppy, by snarling and emitting a low growl.  How do I get them together without the collie eating the yorkie?  The puppy does not have all her shots and we were told not to let the puppy outside for at least 2 to 3 months.  HELP!  Thanks for any advice you can give.   Jen

Answer
Hi Jennifer,

Thank you for writing to me about your new puppy.

A home that has a dog that is aggressive to other dogs, should never introduce another pooch into the mix.  I am not sure why this was done but this sweet puppy needs to be rehomed.  The best way to do that is by posting on Petfinder.com/   Be sure to take a good photo and give a detailed description. Make the new owner sign an adoption contract, speak to that person's vet, get 3 references, and make a surprise home visit (interview the neigbors as well).

Until you can rehome the puppy, please place it in a part of your home that your aggressive Border Collie cannot reach.  This is very important information that needs to be treated respectfully.

The immediate danger is that your Yorkie will be made so nervous by the stressful atmosphere that it will stop eating and drinking and can possibly die within an hour from hypoglycemia.  You must monitor this pup's eating and drinking habits carefully.

I wish I had better news for you but this is a life threatening situation that I see no resolution for except rehoming the dog.

If you want a second opinion, please contact a colleague of mine who also volunteers at all experts, Jill Frankenberry.  She is a dog to dog aggression specialist.

Best Regards,
Shelley Davis