Need advice - existing dog and new puppy [View all]

[OnionPatch]

Last edited Fri Mar 8, 2019, 07:11 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't post here often but am in desperate need of some advice.

We just got a new puppy from a shelter. She's four months old, a pit/lab mix and as sweet as can be. We already have a 7 year old dachshund/husky mix (yes, you read that right.) He's 50 pounds but rather short, lol. We brought him home as a puppy to an existing pit/lab mix who passed away about a year ago. He loved her! So he's used to being around at least one other dog and we thought he'd be glad to have a new friend.

We followed all the suggestions for bringing home a new dog. We took him to the shelter where he met the new puppy. They sniffed nosed and seemed fine to walk along side each other. But now that we have the puppy home, he growls at her a little when they interact. Just a low rumble. But still...We've been keeping them separate but allowing them to see each other and take walks together with one person walking each dog. We let them sniff noses, etc. He seems excited and happy and wags his tail when he sees her but once they start sniffing for a minute, he growls low and sometime his hackles raise a little. That's when we separate them and continue walking. He seems fine when she's in the same room, mostly ignores her and only acts this way when they meet face to face. He seems curious, not in an aggressive way. But I'm no dog-mind reader and am having trouble interpreting this behavior.

We're really worried now about his growling. If we let them just be around each other, and don't separate them when he growls, will he attack her? Or is this low growl a fairly normal response? The puppy is sweet and licks his face and acts submissive, so it's not like she's being at all threatening. She's a little scared of him, which makes us feel sorry for her. Not a nice way to experience a new home.

Can anyone here give us some advice on easing these two together? Any insight about this particular behavior? Thanks in advance.