older dog hates new puppy

Question
I had 2 happy older dogs 10 and 9 and in my own wisdom (hah) I decided to get a new puppy . My older boy hates and I mean hates the new guy , and I am at my wits end I seem to be always shouting at the older one , and if I'm not shouting at him I'm playing with the new one so as to distract him from the old one !!! . I don't want to shout anymore but how to I stop the snarling and growling that is almost constant. The puppy is not too pushy , but is desperate for some affection from Thomas . I have begun to wonder should I get another puppy so as to keep them both amused ,so Thomas wont be bothered !! . Please please help me , it is breaking my heart to see Thomas so sad.

Answer
H Joyce;
Is Thomas the puppy or the oldest dog?
It sounds like the old dog doesn't like his new competitor for your affections.
You don't say how long you have had the puppy.
If it is just a few days, give the older dog a chance to get used to the puppy.
Don't shout at the older dog, and especially shout at him then pet the puppy, that is just making it worse.
You are showing the older dog that the puppy is taking his place.
I don't shout at mine. I do correct in a very stern ( I won't allow that) voice.
The older dog should be able to get away from the puppy. A puppy can really wear on an older dog's nerves, but the older one needs to be made to feel secure in his position in the family.
Is there snapping and biting, or just growling and snarling?
If the dog is just growling and warning the litle one away, and bot actualkly trying to hurt it, it could be that you are just misreading the situation.
By growling ( their way od scolding, sometyimes) he could be training that puppy about the house rules.
Unless there is an attempy to actually bite, I wouldn't so much.
Scold the older dog, but not with the same degree of harshness that you would for his actually DOING something wrong.
Scold more like, "No, don't growl at the puppy, you scare him". Say it to him in a little bit of a stern way, but while you have your hand o him, in an affectionate way. In other words, start with a mild explaining like you would if you were telling a child, "I need you to help me make this little boy feel at home here. He is opart of our family now, and he needs you to be his big brother, and I need you to help me make him feel like we love him too. You are the big brother, etc, etc)
You want to make the older doig feel his position in the family is not threatened, and at the same time, making the puppy feel it is safe.
Geesh!!! I could explain this so much easier in person.LOL
I appraoch introducing a new puppy like I am relying on the older dogs for help. Like it. "OUR new puppy"
Pup[pies can annoy an olde dog, jumping on them, biting their ears, and otherwise playing the way puippies play with each other. So, the older dog needs their space where they can get away from this annoyance.
Growling and even snapping at ( without actually trying to bite) in one way they show the new puppy what the bounderies are.
If, when he growls and snarls, the puppy isn't running away, yelping and shopwing real fear, then you are probably being more concerned that you should.
If the older dog were actually hating the little one, and it was in dager of being hurt, I think it would be avoiding the older dog, giving him a wide birth when it passes him etc.
If the puppy keeps getting close to the dog, and doesn't show a lot of fear at the growling, then wait, at a safe enough distance that you can be right there is it accellerates, but don't yel etc.
See how this works out.
Before you think of getting another puppy, make sure this is a situation you would want to bring another one in to.
If your older dog really is not going to accept a new puppy, then another one would just make the problem much worse.
Charlotte