adding a new puppy

[reno]

My question is regarding adding a new member to our family. We have a 2 year old male and will be getting our new baby girl this weekend. We had had multiple rotties in the past, but it has been many years and you tend to forget some things. We know to introduce them in a neutral place and how to conduct the meeting. If anyone has some extra advise or information I would appreciate it.

[hokisteph5]

I know when Gretchen was brought home Samson barked at her A LOT for the first couple of days (and he's not a big barker). They were just supervised together and never left alone. They had their own crates and separate feeding dishes. I also spent quality time alone with Samson.

Within a few days, I got to saying they were each other's BFF and now they love each other. I have to say, though, had Gretchen come into the house first she would've been an only dog.

[GypsysMom]

When I brought Gypsy home it was real late at night, both cages are downstairs so I put her cage next to Choppers, thinking it would be better for her, I gave her a little blanket and each time I went to check on her Chopper had stolen her blanket through the crate bars, so I had to move her away,He didnt sleep all night he was too busy watching her, I didnt introduce them away from my home, I did do it outside and had him and her on a leash and he did great with her, just sniffed her then the occassional head butt and she would roll over, 10 weeks later they are the best of buds,

Good Luck with your new puppy, let us know when you get her and what her name is

[blatt mom]

I have three rotties.
Congratulations & best wishes.
I will tell you when I brought home the last rottie baby girl my rescue male was my Mr. Mom compared to my older female.
He still is the first to take charge and correct her as well.
Alpha, Omega & third string stinker.
Patience is a virtue!

[SABELLESMOM]

Oh how sweet!! Congratulations! I'm so excited and happy for you. Everyone has such wonderful ideas. Read and use the ideas that fit your situation. Perhaps I can relate what worked for us.

We just put Sable on a leash with DH holding. And I carried the pup in for her to snif and size up. Once she had her fill of sniffing, she went to "watching" from Marty's lap. He was on the floor. The pup sniffed her and she just let it happen.

We ignored the pup, and watched closely. I was close enough to pull the pup away, and Marty had the leash. Paid some attention to Sable, and she was fine. She popped up on the couch with Marty. I stayed on the floor.

For limited times over 2 days, Sable watched the pup from her perch on the couch. She'd cock her head from one side to the other in amusement and look at one of us. She was very interested in what the pup was doing! Then she'd lay next to one of us and want some petting. After the 2 days of "puzzling things out" she got down, picked up the stretchy snakie and proceeded to teach the pup to tug!

It was a done deal. She "adopted" this pup, and treated it like her own. She looked after it, and invented many games to "play." I've never been so amazed! Not only by her love and acceptance of this pesky little thing, but her inginuity at creative ways to play with her. They would often round the corner, with the opposite ends of the same giraffe in their mouths...both grinning from ear to ear. She would nudge a ball at her with her feet or her nose... an instant soccer game.

They are good friends to this day. Raven, tho significantly bigger, continues to treat her "mother" with respect. They still play. They still lay down together from time to time. They are now 2 and 5 (at the end of the month)

Dogs are individuals, they may respond differently. One general rule: NEVER, allow any stiffness between them. Voices a bit loud during play? Get them to knock it off! Set the tempo, not them. At least that was my plan.

Beyond that, I made certain they had scheduled time together and apart. The pup needs to bond with you. Both need their own training sessions. And the Cocker slept (3 nights each) by her crate, just as he'd done for Sable when she was a pup! Not a peep out of either of them! It was wonderous. Poor Cocker. This was his third Rottweiler, and bless him, he loves them all.

[reno]

I would like to thank those who replied to me. The meeting went great. Reno the 2 year old has been so gentle with her (Raven). At least as gentle as 130lb rottie can be. He is playing nice and trying to be careful around her. We are consistently supervising them. Raven on the other hand is beating up Reno. She is very funny. What's even better is to watch these two on the floor. We try to keep him in the down position to even up the score. She pounces on his head and he doesn't even mind. I think she is trying to establish her place and boss him around. Anyway we are enjoying the two of them and looking forward to her first heat. Yeah right!!! Thanks again everyone. Oh one more thing, she is the most cutest baby girl. Just so you all know:)

[ielgdpt]

Take tons of pics! That is the one thing I did wrong with my boy. I wish I had a video camera of him rolling around and running as an 8 week old. That was the cutest he will ever be (hes still pretty cute as a 2 year old). Enjoy.

[SABELLESMOM]

Don't be surprised if he continues to let her boss him around. I have a female, Sable, (known as the enforcer, by her breeder) who just puts her apron on and every male (playmates/friends & biological brothers) I've known lets her do it.