dogs den

Question
I have a 11 year old black lab. She has been sleeping in my bedroom for about 4 yrs. The other years she has slept in the living room. Four months ago I got a 1 month old labradoodle. She has been sleeping in her kennel in the living room because she's in potty training. For two days I tried letting my puppy (who is also a female) sleep in my bedroom on the opposite side of where my dog sleeps. My old lab didn't approve; they didn't fight but my old lab was just very uncomfortable and upset looking (and she growled a few times). I read about the bedroom being the dog and mine den. Should I let my new puppy sleep in my room and tell my lab to deal with it, or should I try  something else? what do you recommend?  

Answer
Who sleeps where and gets the choice places can be very important to dogs.  Older dogs aren't pleased when you bring a little puppy into the house.  I have taken to calling our 12 year old Aster the grouch.  You old dog may not be happy with this, but as top dog, it is your right to do it and to let the puppy in the bed room.  It may be too late to train the old dog much, but you need to let the puppy grow up seeing you as top dog.  The 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. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/