Helping an older dog adjust to a new puppy has not been easy. My five-year-old Mountain Cur is not too happy about having a little energetic puppy running around the house. This is Joey’s story.
Joey and His Best Friend Zeus
Joey grew up with our older dog, Zeus. Zeus was an 85-pound Pit Bull, and we knew he would take good care of Joey, even though Joey drove him crazy.
When Joey was a puppy, he followed Zeus everywhere, biting at his legs and jumping on him. You could tell Zeus wasn’t exactly thrilled about having a little puppy around all the time.
Joey didn’t care. He loved Zeus and wanted to be wherever Zeus was.
Zeus would jump on the couch to get away from him. That worked until Joey figured out how to jump onto the couch too. Even when we went for a ride in the car, Joey had to be sitting or standing on Zeus.
When Zeus lay down in their doggy bed, Joey would be right there, usually on top of him.
I think Zeus knew it was his job to teach Joey how things worked around our home and to protect him. Zeus gave in to Joey so much that when Joey got older, Zeus even let him be the boss.
When Joey Lost Zeus
Zeus died at nine years old, and his loss hit all of us hard.
Joey seemed to mourn him too.
He looked for Zeus everywhere. Sometimes Joey would come up to me and look at me as if he were asking, “Where’s Zeus?”
I was hurting so much from Zeus’s passing that I think I missed some of the signs Joey was giving me at first. He truly missed his old pal.
Joey wouldn’t even stay outside for very long. He would go out just long enough to do his business and then come back inside.
Before we lost Zeus, Joey used to run all over our mountain. You could hear him from what seemed like miles away. After Zeus was gone, he even quit doing that.
I felt terrible for him because there was no way I could explain what had happened to his best friend.
Then Along Came Thor
A few months went by, and my husband brought home a four-week-old puppy.
I thought he was the cutest little thing.
Joey did not agree.
Joey wouldn’t even look at the puppy. He looked at me as if he were asking, “What the heck is that thing?”
And from that moment on, Joey’s life changed again.
Helping an older dog adjust to a new puppy was clearly going to take some time.
Joey Was Not Impressed
Joey wanted nothing to do with Thor.
He seemed so disgusted by this little puppy that he could barely look his way. I tried explaining to Joey that he was going to have to teach Thor how things worked around here, just like Zeus had taught him.
Joey looked at me like I was crazy.
One challenge with helping an older dog adjust to a new puppy is realizing that the older dog may need time to accept all that puppy energy.
If Thor got anywhere near him, Joey would show his teeth and growl. Actually, Thor didn’t even have to be that close. Joey would sometimes growl at him from across the room.
I started sitting on the floor with Joey and Thor and giving them both attention while keeping a close eye on their interactions. I wanted Joey to know that Thor being there didn’t mean he was losing me.
It helped a little.
At least Joey would finally look at him!
Joey Is My Dog
Joey is a good dog, but he is very wary of people he doesn’t know. Because he may bite when he’s uncomfortable around someone new, we have to be careful and manage those situations closely.
I think part of it comes from wanting to protect me.
You see, I’m Joey’s person.
He bonded with me. He was originally supposed to be my husband’s dog, but it didn’t quite work out that way.
Wherever I go, Joey is right by my side.
So suddenly having Thor take up so much of my time wasn’t sitting very well with Joey. I make a point of giving Joey attention too, so he knows he hasn’t lost his place with me.
That has been an important part of helping an older dog adjust to a new puppy in our home.
Thor Just Won’t Take the Hint
When I take Thor outside to go to the bathroom, Joey is usually right there with us.
He still doesn’t really want to play with Thor.
Joey seems to think running away from him will solve the problem.
It doesn’t.
Thor is right on his heels, trying to catch him and bite at him.
I tell Joey, “Be nice!”
Joey looks at me like, “Are you kidding me? I want to bite this little thing!”
Poor Joey.
He has no idea how persistent a puppy can be, even though he did the exact same thing to Zeus when he was little.
Joey Is Starting to Accept Thor
The more time I spend with both dogs, the more Joey seems to be easing up.
He will even sort of play with Thor now.
These little moments make me feel like we are making progress with helping an older dog adjust to a new puppy.
Joey lets Thor get close enough to chase him. Once Thor actually catches up, though, that’s a different story.
Joey heads for the woods to get away from him.
Thor wants to follow, but he’s not quite brave enough yet. He’ll venture a little way into the woods and then turn around and come running back.
But I’ve noticed something else about Joey.
Maybe Joey Cares More Than He Lets On
Joey watches over Thor from a distance.
He doesn’t seem to want Thor getting too far away from home. When they’re outside together, Joey doesn’t come back to the house unless Thor is right behind him.
That tells me something.
For me, this has been one of the most encouraging parts of helping an older dog adjust to a new puppy.
Joey may not be ready to cuddle with Thor or let him climb all over him the way Joey once did with Zeus, but I think he’s already beginning to watch out for the little guy.
Maybe Joey remembers more of what Zeus taught him than he realizes.
Helping an Older Dog Adjust to a New Puppy Takes Time
Helping an older dog adjust to a new puppy is still a work in progress in our house.
I’m not going to force Joey and Thor to become best friends. Joey needs his own attention and space, and Thor still has a lot to learn about boundaries.
But every once in a while, I see a little progress.
Joey lets Thor get closer. He runs with him for a little while. He watches him outside. And when it’s time to come home, Joey makes sure that little puppy isn’t left behind.
Zeus once had to put up with Joey following him everywhere, biting at his legs and refusing to leave him alone.
Now it’s Joey’s turn.
I think one day Joey will fully accept Thor and become his protector, just like Zeus was for him.
For now, we’ll keep giving them both love, space, patience, and time.
After all, Joey had a pretty good teacher.
You can read more of our pet stories and follow along with Joey and Thor as they continue adjusting to life together.