Dear Dr. Diane,
I bought a new puppy. I already own a shi Tzu; he is 5. The puppy is a shi tzu also….both are males. I bought a puppy so my older dog could have company. I brought the puppy home and my older dog just runs away from him….the puppy is friendly and wants to play and my Tanner just runs away and does not want to be in the same room as my puppy? I am heart broken my kids are upset they have been crying over Tanner. We are loving Tanner and showing him all the love and we have the puppy in the crate. He just runs away we are heartbroken. We just want Tanner to adjust to the puppy. Please help us!!!! We thought it would be easy and Tanner would like the puppy? Please help!!! Upset in New Jersey!!!!
Dogs tend to be creatures of habit. Tanner has held a certain position and role in your household for 5 years. He has reigned as the one and only beloved dog in your family and held a special place in all of your hearts. Now, he is confronted with a new entity – an unfamiliar creature who behaves erratically, makes strange sounds, has a different scent, etc than those to which he is accustomed. As you are the “alpha” of your family, spend quiet, quality time with both dogs while your kids are away at school. Talk soothingly, lovingly and calmly to them. Get on the floor and play with them. Encourage them to get near each other. Treat Tanner with the same love and attention he has always received, and let him know through words and gestures, that you have brought this new puppy into your home as a friend and sibling for him. Do this several times each day for a while – as long as it takes foe them to get to know each other.
When your children are home, perform the same routine having them treat Tanner with love and respect, not making a special fuss over the new puppy and behaving quietly, calmly and soothingly. Have your kids encourage and praise both dogs when they are getting along well together. Do not allow Tanner to run away. When the puppy is in a crate, have Tanner in the same room with him – you can even leave the two alone together while the puppy is crated. I think that in time the two will get used to each other and, hopefully, become good friends.
Dr. Pomerance is an animal behavior specialist and an expert on topics such as deciding which puppy is best for your family, how to pick out a rescue, and on healing from the loss of a pet.
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