New Dog to a home with Older Dog

Question
We have a 10 year old american staffordshire terrior and just recently got a 1 year old shiba inu.  We noticed that our older dog Maggie has not been acting like herself.  She is not eating, is losing a lot of weight and has been much more aggressive.  I think she is depressed and I wanted to know what we could do to treat this depression?  

Answer
Shannon,

This isn't the first question like this that I've gotten. What you're experiencing is somewhat common. Maggie is depressed. The best advice I can give to you is to make sure you are still spending quality one-on-one time with Maggie. Bringing home a new dog if she has been your only pet for 10 years can be as upsetting as bringing home a new baby is for an only child. Maggie needs to feel like she is still very special to you, and that the new dog hasn't changed that at all. If she has been receiving less individual attention, you should start giving her as much as she used to get. At meal time, try having her in a room alone with to give her a chance to eat in peace, without thinking about the new dog. As for the aggression, if it is toward the new dog, you will have the best luck finding a trainer or behaviorist in your area to help you. Sometimes dogs just don't accept new 'pack members', and if Maggie simply doesn't like the new dog, there may not be much you can do about it. Bringing home a new dog is something that has to be very carefully done, and its best to fully educate yourself on the best way to do it and the possible unforseen consequences. Usually though, these things can be cleared up by making sure you still give Maggie lots of love and affection, and let her know she's still important. And this may sound silly - but in all seriousness, a lot of people have had great luck with talking to their dog. Have a serious, long talk with Maggie about how she's still very special and important, and how the new dog isn't taking her place or taking away any of your love. I'm not trying to tell you dogs understand English, but its been proven time and time again that they do understand strong emotions and ideas we convey.

The MOST important thing here is Maggie's health. As a safety precaution, I recommend taking her to a veterinarian for a wellness exam to make sure she hasn't become dehydrated or malnourished. They can also give you tips on how to handle this situation. And if you aren't able to fix the situation on your own within a week or so, I would definately take her in. Loss of appetite and weight loss can cause serious problems.

Best wishes,

Ashley