Acceptance of New Puppy

[sbaucum]

Help, Help, Help!!!!! I have two three year old spayed females. And of course that are spoiled rotten. For my birthday I was given a 9 week old male Basset Puppy. I really want it to work out BUT the sisters will not accept the puppy at all. They snarl, growl and snap at the poor little thing. I have tried giving them extra attention and I've tried punishing them but it is not getting any better. I am afraid to turn my back on them. My husband says I'm just not being patient enough since it has only been a week but I don't want to get any more attached to the little boy and have to get rid of him. Does anyone have any suggestions for
getting them to accept him.

[Milkbones]

Been there, done that. It took about a week before Sophie and Lucy would accept DJ when we brought him home. This is perfectly normal behavior, as far as your girls are concerned, because this little interloper is on their territory and they don't like it. Giving the girls extra attention is good, you don't want to make them feel like they're being left out or ignored. We always crated our young ones, so the older dogs could have some freedom. Perhaps your girls feel like they're being pestered by Junior too much. At nine weeks of age, he's freshly away from Momma, and he probably is trying to convince one of them to take over the job. It does require patience, lots of it, and some separation between the boy and girls now and then. I've just had to let Sophie come to terms with any newbie that has come in, and she's been snappy, snarly, growly, then gradually figured out the pup wasn't going to go anywhere, oh, well, let's get on with life. Don't know if this is all that much of a help, but once the girls get their knickers unknotted, things should be fine. Note, I said "should".

[Southern Bassets]

Great advise Milkbones!
The only thing I would ad is try using a waterbottle to get on to them for acting up?
Everything will be fine. In no time they will all be the best of friends!
Let us know what happens?

[Milkbones]

I never used a water bottle on Sophie or Lucy when we got DJ. I just figured that if he needed correcting about him bugging them, they would do it, within reason, of course. Then, he was 9 months old when we got him from rescue, not a 9 week old pup. I remember (vaguely) when we got Sophie and put her in the crowd of Margaret and...dog before Lucy, mind fails me...okay, Abby the Scottie (dog from hell)...Abby was the snappier of the two, and she actually nipped Sophie a couple of times. Margaret was a bit better. Young pups are still looking for a "mother" figure, which is not what mine wanted to be at all! But the youngster had to learn (within reason) that he/she couldn't get away with too much crap, otherwise "Momma" Margaret or "Momma" Sophie would correct them. As it stands now, as it was in the past, whenever we are confronted by a strange dog, Sophie is right there to protect "HER puppies" from harm. Anyways, it takes time for the established dogs to accept an interloper, but it gradually happens. Until then, you keep an eye on the pup if things get out of hand, and sort of let them sort things out. After all, they're dogs, they're forming their pack, and someone is always the alpha. That's what they have to work out (within reason).

[sbaucum]

Thanks for the help. We are still battling it out. This is my fourth Basset but first real puppy. Anyone got any housebreaking tips. I work and can't convince my husband that the pupply needs to stay in his cage. He (my husband) is a sucker for those big dark eyes. He lets him run loose in the house and I have a mess when I come home. These mean big sisters still giving quite a problem. I'll sure be glad when they get those "knickers out of a knot".
Sherry

[Milkbones]

Tongue in cheek: Stick husband in cage, buy another for the pup. Honest, the only way to housebreak a pup is consistancy. When we had our pups, we took them outside every hour on the hour, so to speak, gradually increasing the time intervals as they matured. It also helps to have other dogs, as Junior watches and sniffs and says "Oh, I'm supposed to do that outside", or something to that effect. It isn't easy or quick most of the time with a basset. And, if you cannot keep a close watch on the pup, it should be crated. Too many accidents happen when Junior is wandering around unwatched, and that accomplishes nothing. And if that happens, that is not the time to punish or yell at the pup. Just scoop him up and take him outside and tell him to do his job outside. Consistancy and lots of patience. Lamaze helps. Deep breath in, let it out slowly, very slowly.

[sbaucum]

HAHAHA Love the idea of the husband in the cage. I'm off for the next three days and it's going to be intense housebreaking. Do you think 9 weeks is too young too have good results. Also, it is not getting any better between the pup and the older sisters. Do you think it would help if I have him nutered.

[Milkbones]

He's far too young to be neutered right now. My vet will do it at 4-1/2 months of age, and all of my animals have generally been snipped at that age, dogs and cats, without any problems. As for the girls, they're just being bitchy, in hopes the little twerp will go away (they think of him as a twerp). Sophie ... well, DJ as 9 mo. old when we got him from rescue, freshly neutered, so he was still full of it, and she snapped and snarled and growled for about a week. But then, we'd already introduced Lucy to her, so she'd been aware of strange little furballs popping into her life already. And yes, she acted the same with Lucy. As for the intense housetraining...that will help, somewhat, though, it's been my basset experience (3), they they are not that trustworthy until at least a year (girls are better than boys). But getting the concept into his head that potty is for outside and doing it consistantly over a period of time helps. And, believe me, also keeping him in his crate whenever no one, and that means the husband, can't keep an eye on him, also works. They have to earn their freedom. It also gives the girls a sense that they can have some freedom from him, too. And keep a sense of humor about this. If you don't, you go crazy. Consistancy, consistancy, consistancy makes it easier.