Hello everyone, My name is Kore and I am writing to you from Florence, Italy where I live with my two French Bulldogs of 11 and 6. The 6 year old is blind. I am a little anxious because tomorrow we are getting a new, 4 month old puppy who is a shelter dog. I am happy to have the dog but just nervous about the first steps to take to avoid conflict and jealousy. Below is a better description and a few specific questions for which I would be VERY VERY grateful for any/all advice you can offer.
Over the years we have had a total of up to 4 dogs simultaneously (my other two passed away), so both of my "girls" have lived with other dogs and been introduced, in the past, to other puppies. My issue here is that my eldest dog is now 11, and sleeps all day (20 hours a day, literally). Emma, my blind 6 year old, sleeps most of the day as, being blind, her movements are limited and her sister won't play with her (this is why we are getting the puppy!!). When I introduced my last puppy I made the mistake of just "plopping" him on the floor, at home, thinking "he's just a puppy"... 10 days later there was a huge fight between two of the bitchs which it took me months to resolve (successfully). Eventually everyone settled down again, including the puppy. This time I don't want to make that mistake. I have arranged to introduce the dogs outside, to walk around the block a few times, before coming home. But, my questions are :
1° - SLEEPING : Although the girls have their own beds, more often than not they have been sleeping with me.
- is it OK if the puppy sleeps in the kitchen at night, and I keep the girls with me?
OR - should I keep the girls with me, and the puppy CRATED in our room?
2° I would need to walk the puppy much more often than the other two, including in the morning. I am worried that this will cause jealousy, since both the girls are VERY attached to me and jealous (but never aggressive, they just want cuddles all the time).
- should I take the dogs out separately : first my girls, then the puppy?
- how do I avoid conflict when I bring back the puppy/my older dogs from separate walks?
3° Generally speaking, should I treat my older dogs differently from the puppy (extra attention, extra treats etc?) or just keep the same "normal" conditions they are used to?
For now these are the three most urgent questions as the puppy arrives in the morning.
I'd be very grateful for any responses..... THANK YOU
Over the years we have had a total of up to 4 dogs simultaneously (my other two passed away), so both of my "girls" have lived with other dogs and been introduced, in the past, to other puppies. My issue here is that my eldest dog is now 11, and sleeps all day (20 hours a day, literally). Emma, my blind 6 year old, sleeps most of the day as, being blind, her movements are limited and her sister won't play with her (this is why we are getting the puppy!!). When I introduced my last puppy I made the mistake of just "plopping" him on the floor, at home, thinking "he's just a puppy"... 10 days later there was a huge fight between two of the bitchs which it took me months to resolve (successfully). Eventually everyone settled down again, including the puppy. This time I don't want to make that mistake. I have arranged to introduce the dogs outside, to walk around the block a few times, before coming home. But, my questions are :
1° - SLEEPING : Although the girls have their own beds, more often than not they have been sleeping with me.
- is it OK if the puppy sleeps in the kitchen at night, and I keep the girls with me?
OR - should I keep the girls with me, and the puppy CRATED in our room?
2° I would need to walk the puppy much more often than the other two, including in the morning. I am worried that this will cause jealousy, since both the girls are VERY attached to me and jealous (but never aggressive, they just want cuddles all the time).
- should I take the dogs out separately : first my girls, then the puppy?
- how do I avoid conflict when I bring back the puppy/my older dogs from separate walks?
3° Generally speaking, should I treat my older dogs differently from the puppy (extra attention, extra treats etc?) or just keep the same "normal" conditions they are used to?
For now these are the three most urgent questions as the puppy arrives in the morning.
I'd be very grateful for any responses..... THANK YOU
