Expert: Angela Donald - 10/1/2010

Question
Hii we have decided to take a new companion for our 5 yr old boxer, i just have a couple of worries, Diezel our Brindle male has socialised with other dogs and gets on fairly well with large dogs such as alsations etc but when little dogs come around he can be over boisterous i wouldnt say nasty as i have never seen him bite id like to say over defensive (hair standing etc) , but as he was a rescue dog we dont know how well he was socialised growing up (until we got him at 2yr), he is an angel with our 3 yr old son who constantly pesters him bullies him and is a general nusance for him but im just wondering what route i should take when bringing home the female puppy??? will he understand she is a baby and no threat?? what is the best way, i was thinking of taking a crate for the puppy but was thinking will that make things worst as Diezel has free run of the house and the puppy wont ??? any tips advice would be greatly appreciated +

Answer
Hi Kelly,

There are several things you can do to lessen the stress of the new pup's arrival. Always put the male first and don't show the new pup more attention than Diezel. Always show Diezel attention first, petting him first, speaking to or feeding first and do not feed them together, let him out first.Crate the puppy for safety reasons and to help aid in potty training. Introduce them with the puppy in the crate first to see his reaction and only let him meet and greet her this way for several days. You should know that raised hair isn't a defensive sign per se but a sign of aggression or warning to the other dog/person. You are correct since Diezel is a rescue we can not predict his behavior as we have no idea what he was accustom or exposed to before age two. Don't knowingly think he is going to attack this puppy, the best way to introduce them is with a calm attitude.Dogs have an uncanny ability to pick up on our energy, if we're excited, nervous, etc., they will be in that state of mind as well. Good luck and thank you for your question.

Angela Donald
Canine Behavior Consultant
Hi-Tower Boxers
http://www.hitowerboxers.com