Advise on introduction

Chiana · Sep 30, 2015

How have you with multiple frenchies managed to introduce a new puppy?

We are expecting to add a second by the end of the year, Moses will then be around 2 years.
Today we had friends over with their vizsla puppy and they played well, but Moses didn't seem to understand that Bruno (Vizsla) was still a tiny puppy.
Moses just kept frenchie-bowling him and rough housing. Luckily Bruno was bigger and brave, so no harm done.

This made me wonder how we will manage with another little frenchie puppy in the house.
Now I'm worried that Moses will injure the puppy by an accident. Even if the initial introduction goes well, Moses just gets hyper and starts ramming around.

I'm prepared to get an x-pen etc, but is there any method of how to make Moses understand to take it easy with the little one?

Alice Kable · Sep 30, 2015

Usually when a baby yips, the older dog stops playing to see what's going on. I'd keep Moses on leash at first.

Jakeyjake · Sep 30, 2015

Jake was pretty gentle with Stella but he would sometimes get a little spooled up and excited and I would just break it up.

JuniorsMom · Oct 1, 2015

I worried about that too, as our adult dog can be persnickety with other dogs. When we introduced our 9-year-old female pug to our 8-week Frenchie, we did it outside in the backyard. We held the puppy's rear for the adult to sniff first, and then supervised carefully. I find that adults will accept young puppies quite easily. We moved inside the house when it looked like things were going well. We didn't leave them alone together, unsupervised, for the first two months just to be sure. When we went out, the adult dog had the run of the house, while the puppy was in a pen nearby. This worked well for potty training, as well as giving the adult dog a little peace.

You may find that your older dog is very helpful in teaching the puppy some manners. When Junior did something Lola considered to be "wrong," like sticking his head in her food bowl or jumping on her head while she was sleeping, she would suddenly chase him down and throw him on his back. The puppy would yip a few times like he was being killed and then it was over. It was hard not to intervene but it was best to let them work it out. No teeth were used, it is mostly a show of force and a lesson for the puppy about manners and rank order in the pack.

Now, with Junior at 5 months and about the same size as Lola, they get along famously. Lots of wrestling and chasing and rolling around. Lola still needs a break from the puppy antics from time to time, so she will sneak off to another floor in the house. Junior is still afraid to climb our stairs, so that's ok for now.

I'm so excited about your new puppy!
Lisa

Squishy Walnuts · Oct 1, 2015

Although Uma is a BT and not a Frenchie I had her meet Wally on neutral ground before taking him home. We had them meet at a school yard and they ran around a bit. She seemed amused by the puppy, but when I took him in the car with me she looked at me as if to say 'he's living with us???'. lol! She would bowl him over a bit to establish dominance but she didn't hurt him. I think Moses will understand that it's a puppy but keep an eye on them to ensure he won't be jealous or get too playful. Frenchie puppies are pretty tough, just like they are as adults.

I'm so excited for you!!!!!!!!!!!

Chiana · Oct 3, 2015

JuniorsMom said:
I worried about that too, as our adult dog can be persnickety with other dogs. When we introduced our 9-year-old female pug to our 8-week Frenchie, we did it outside in the backyard. We held the puppy's rear for the adult to sniff first, and then supervised carefully. I find that adults will accept young puppies quite easily. We moved inside the house when it looked like things were going well. We didn't leave them alone together, unsupervised, for the first two months just to be sure. When we went out, the adult dog had the run of the house, while the puppy was in a pen nearby. This worked well for potty training, as well as giving the adult dog a little peace.

You may find that your older dog is very helpful in teaching the puppy some manners. When Junior did something Lola considered to be "wrong," like sticking his head in her food bowl or jumping on her head while she was sleeping, she would suddenly chase him down and throw him on his back. The puppy would yip a few times like he was being killed and then it was over. It was hard not to intervene but it was best to let them work it out. No teeth were used, it is mostly a show of force and a lesson for the puppy about manners and rank order in the pack.

Now, with Junior at 5 months and about the same size as Lola, they get along famously. Lots of wrestling and chasing and rolling around. Lola still needs a break from the puppy antics from time to time, so she will sneak off to another floor in the house. Junior is still afraid to climb our stairs, so that's ok for now.

I'm so excited about your new puppy!
Lisa

This is exactly what I wanted to hear...that the puppy will learn from the older brother

Well, Mo has his quirky habits, but mostly he is such a well behaved little buddy, so I just hope the little one will pick things up from him

Chiana · Oct 3, 2015

Squishy Walnuts said:
Although Uma is a BT and not a Frenchie I had her meet Wally on neutral ground before taking him home. We had them meet at a school yard and they ran around a bit. She seemed amused by the puppy, but when I took him in the car with me she looked at me as if to say 'he's living with us???'. lol! She would bowl him over a bit to establish dominance but she didn't hurt him. I think Moses will understand that it's a puppy but keep an eye on them to ensure he won't be jealous or get too playful. Frenchie puppies are pretty tough, just like they are as adults.

I'm so excited for you!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the encouragement. That is exactly something that I already know Mo will go through as well, since he really is a spoiled "only child"

My concern was when Bruno puppy was here and Mo Frenchie-bowled him down and climbed on top of him and just kept standing on him. Bruno did the puppy yelp, but Mo just kept holding his stance and I had to run over to lift him up.

I will follow your advise and have them meet initially on neutral ground and then bring them to our yard and take it from there. I will keep Mo on leash at all times, since he normally starts to rough housing with absolutely everybody at first sight.

I just keep having this horror image in my head of what happened to that little puppy that was left with the "breeder" :fie:

Mavis · Oct 4, 2015

[MENTION=1348]Chiana[/MENTION], I hear you. I was a wreck when we were driving home with Bambi and the thought of introducing her to Ginger, our dobie mix. When we got home, my husband took Ginger out in the backyard on a leash and I came out carrying Bambi and put her down next to Ginger so Ginger could sniff her. Ginger got a good sniff and Bambi, too, and we have never had an issue. I think Ginger was kind of scared the first time Bambi tried to play. She was jumping up and nipping Ginger's jowel and make her crazy frenchie noises. Actually, the first time I heard her do that, I was freaking out that there was something wrong with her! :facepalm: Can't wait for you to get Mo's brother; they will have so much fun together!

Chiana · Oct 5, 2015

[MENTION=1070]Mavis[/MENTION] Thanks! I will definitely try the similar approach as you did with Bambi and Ginger. plus when they get indoors, I will put the newcomer to an x-pen to get them used to each others on ground level...then when they have calmed down, I might put them to have a free meeting in our living room.
I will keep harness and leash on Moses, just to be safe. He is so quick when it comes to tipping friends over :rundog:

He can be the sweetest little angel, but if he gets hyper, he is more like a chubby little boy in a sand box breaking everybody's sand castles

Squishy Walnuts · Oct 5, 2015

Chiana said:
Thanks for the encouragement. That is exactly something that I already know Mo will go through as well, since he really is a spoiled "only child"
My concern was when Bruno puppy was here and Mo Frenchie-bowled him down and climbed on top of him and just kept standing on him. Bruno did the puppy yelp, but Mo just kept holding his stance and I had to run over to lift him up.

I will follow your advise and have them meet initially on neutral ground and then bring them to our yard and take it from there. I will keep Mo on leash at all times, since he normally starts to rough housing with absolutely everybody at first sight.

I just keep having this horror image in my head of what happened to that little puppy that was left with the "breeder" :fie:

Keeping him on a leash is a good idea. If I was to introduce a puppy to my 2 clowns now I would have to leash Wally as well. He has no manners and thinks that every dog loves to be run over. :facepalm: