I am new to the forum and I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Cyndi and I just received a new bulldog puppy as a Mother's Day gift and we have aptly named him Mayhem. I am in love <3 Unfortunately, my existing Shih Tzu, Chewy is not impressed so far. Any recommendations on how to make this transition easier with the new puppy and our existing, very spoiled, Shih Tzu?
By the way, I have been reading the information on the forum when preparing for the arrival of our new family member and I have learned so much. Thank you all who contribute!
First of all Welcome Cyndi & Mayhem, and Mayhem is the perfect name for a bully
Cyndi, this is my opinion only, and may not hold the same opinion as the rest of the site, That said, I've read books on the subject, and they were dead on I've found in my few situations of doing this.
First of all Chewy is the older of the two, and has established the home first, and then you've introduced Mayhem into the same home. Chewy is not impressed because He has nominated himself Alpha dog, First, #1, owner, king and sole proprietor of all that is within his kingdom. This is the part that has worked out great for me, Chewy will assume the ultimate babysitting role, In helping to teach manners, and etiquette, Will seem quite ill towards Mayhem, but quite gentle between themselves in their language. You'll be worried about supplying Love, care, toys, food etc to the home, Chewy will be more worried in supplying manners to Mayhem, Chewy will take all that you've taught him, and pass that on to Mayhem. If you will handle your part, and allow Chewy to handle his part. Chewy will first of all teach Mayhem that he is Alpha Dog by dominating Mayhem, Things to look for is chin and jaw over the top of mayhem, growling in a viscous tone, Chewy is just letting mayhem know in a stern voice that he's doing wrong, like a mother scorning her child, this is okay, and you shouldn't interfere with this, Chewy will put Mayhem on the fast track pace of learning properly if you will allow Chewy to do so. Sometimes your going to feel Chewy is being to possessive, to stern, too mean, Please, Please, have faith in Chewy, as Chewy is assuming that older brother, older sister role that your children assume in watching baby brother/sister. They really should have met on neutral territory then been introduced together to the home as sharing, But for a puppy, it's not significantly a problem. If you have a little trust in Chewy, faith, Chewy will be a great help in helping you get the puppy acclimated to living in the house. You may even see Chewy (this part is hard) jump at Mayhem, hold him down, Growl at him, even snap at him, Please just allow Chewy to assume her role, you may not have seen why Chewy did what he/she did, but assume she seen something/or bad behavior that was unacceptable to you and your home, and is correcting the problem in pet language. The more you allow Chewy to do, the less you will have to do. Chewy will help you in potty training your new puppy by showing him what to do when you go outside, when chewy uses the bathroom, praise chewy as you normally would, and allow Mayhem to see it. Mayhem is learning from watching, and will be anxiously awaiting his praise, which will come in time. Chewy will help direct his chewing in the right areas, on toys rather than furniture, During this time your going to see what you would normally think is bad behavior, or unacceptable attitudes or just out right jealousy (Being unimpressed) behavior coming from Chewy, Please sit back and allow Chewy to be the Alpha dog. Your going to think at times, every time Mayhem moves he gets growled at, but what your not seeing, is Chewy has actually placed Mayhem in the corner, or is punishing him by grounding him is the term you and I understand, But to Chewy and Mayhem, they interpret their actions totally different. You have a good tool their to use, but your biggest job is not to interfere. You provide love, food, care, toys, and allow Chewy to provide proper etiquette and mannerism for your puppy. If you follow my advice, you'll have two very happy and healthy dogs, if you interfere your going to end up with two nagging, and power hungry pets struggling for Alpha Dog. Please let Chewy be the fur parent and do what she needs to do to remain Alpha, and help in training, like I said it will come a time when you just want to holler and say enough nagging, but if you refrain, your puppy will grow up respecting Chewy, as Alpha, and you and your family, and be on a healthy fast track to learning. IMHO Hope this helps.
to EBN, Cindi! We just got a puppy with an older one in the house... We've had the puppy two weeks and the older one is being very tolerant. I think it just takes time.. Thanx for joining but we reeeeeeaaaallllyyy need LOTS of pix.. LOL Have fun and jump right in.
to EBN, we only have one bully so I'm not going to be any help.
to EBN
