Older dog annoyed with puppy

[Anonymous]

We got an 8 week old rescue in mid May. Our 7 year old dog gets quickly annoyed with his wild self. They do fine running around the backyard, but inside they maaaaybe last 30 minutes before the puppy gets too rough. We let the older dog have the run of the house and keep the puppy confined to the kitchen/playroom. He is well behaved and doing great with training, but it all goes out the window when the older dog is around. He cannot seem to settle and just be, even with favorite bones/chew toys/kong, etc. Will this just get better with time? Is there any special training we should be doing? Puppy will likely be bigger than the dog in the next month.

[Anonymous]

I would let them hash it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would let them hash it out.

And just hope neither gets seriously injured? Our older girl is a rescue as well, but we got her when she was about a year and a half old. We have never seen her even growl, and she has gotten scary snarly looking when she’s gotten fed up with the puppy.

[Anonymous]

I mean is the puppy attacking the older dog?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean is the puppy attacking the older dog?

He’s play biting a lot - tends to go for her ears. Their tails both wag until the older dog has enough, then she gets mean fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean is the puppy attacking the older dog?

He’s play biting a lot - tends to go for her ears. Their tails both wag until the older dog has enough, then she gets mean fast.

We have the same situation with our beagles. I posted video to a beagles Facebook page and asked what to do and everyone says the older dog is t being mean just keeping you get dog in check. When the puppy bites her too hard the older dog gives her a swat, knocks her over, or gently nips her. The puppy yips and cries. People commented that is how puppies learn not to be too rough and to have a gentle bite so they don't clamp down hard.

[Anonymous]

Older dog is not being mean just keeping younger dog in check.

[Anonymous]

With what you described, older dog is teaching the pup exactly what how it is meant to be. Do not interfere, unless the lder dog is about to kill the pup. Older dog is parenting the pup.

[Anonymous]

The older dog is correcting the puppy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With what you described, older dog is teaching the pup exactly what how it is meant to be. Do not interfere, unless the lder dog is about to kill the pup. Older dog is parenting the pup.

This. When we got a puppy, the vet said it was great that we had an older dog to socialize the pup. Now the puppy is grown and he is very good with other dogs. The younger dog is now 6 times the size of the older, and the older one can still back him down with a growl.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all so much for giving us the confidence to let them be together. It was a tense couple hours yesterday, but we didn’t separate them and they seem to be much more chilled out around each other today. In fact, the puppy has been giving himself breaks in his crate.

[Anonymous]

When the puppy is 2, it will get better. Meanwhile the older dog needs lots of calm love from you - maybe older dog cuddles right beside you on the couch, puppy not allowed on the couch. Older dog needs to feel protected from the puppy, and the puppy's eratic behavior. Older dog is king. Remember that. Select the puppy as the dog confinedto a smaller area, if that choice is made.