When I bring our new pup to the house what do I do??Do I arrange for the other 2 labs to go to a neighbours and then bring them back one by one later after the pup has had a little rest after his very ,very long journey.Do I keep them on the property only in the garden (providing it is not raining)If I introduce them one by on..who do I bring in first?The top dog ?The male chocie who is 101/2 and a big boy or the female black lab who is very petit 51/2yrs old.I want to make this as easy as I can for them all ..

Which ones the carmest,

When ever i have introduced any dog to my lot, ive kicked them all
in to the garden, let the new one have a little look round and then brought
the carmest ones in first, let them have a look and sniff at each other,
once they have lost intrest, ive let more in - then i normaly let the new one
carm down and have some peice, but were they all can see each other.
later on i let them all in to the garden together.

Its only what i do though, as i know what my dogs are like
with strange dogs in their home, all dogs are different on how they react.

In my experience of doing this I find that most well adjusted adult dogs understand what a puppy is, there should not be any trouble at all. I would introduce them all in the garden, one at a time, with the puppy on a lead, so the puppy has time to take it all in, and can't run away if he/she gets scared(in unfamiliar territory). Then as one adult dog gets bored of the puppy and wanders off, introduce the next one. After a while, the adults should get bored of the pup and hopefully the pup will not be too scared. Then when its all calmed down, bring puppy into the house still on a lead, and let the adults follow or leave as they choose. The adults may be territorial about their beds, but the pup must learn this anyway! But its a good idea for the pup to have its own bed where it can feel secure, that the other dogs can't pinch, so somewhere under a table or a crate might be good for this. Over boisterous play is the only problem I've ever had, where I've had to walk them seperately until the pup gets a bit bigger! Good luck!

Never had trouble either , perhaps a few slightly miffed older dogs for 1 week or so - usually have 3-4 dogs ( and a few cats ) ; I would NOT bring the resident dogs away and also start in the garden - greet the adult dogs first when coming home , then unload the pup and let them say hi - I focus on the residents , they are establsished and have their rights and need to know , that nothing is taken away from them . Some adult dogs seem to think that " puppie's stink " ...- these are/were the ones that might be miffed for a while; they are allowed a little growl or similar to tell the youngster to stay away , but I will set ( gentle ) limits to that , also to the pushiness of some pups ; distraction and attention and lots of talks - and perhaps treats - do work wonders . Pups usually quite easily line up at the end anyways . Only once I had a pup who had some difficulties understanding that she was behind an older , but way smaller dog in the pecking order - not a deerhound - she learned to respect the little old girl and all was well .

I have just introduced a new puppy to my existing gang. On the same day (actually while I was out collecting pup) I lost one of my dogs which was very stressful for me and certainly one of my dogs who had sat with him in the garden till I got home.

When I was back from the vets I popped pup in a crate in the garden and let the existing dogs sniff her, then let them out in the garden runnning with pup one at a time. Within an hour 8 week old pup was happy running about in and out of the house with an almost 6 yr old entire male deerhound, a 3.5 yr old entire male brittany, a 7 month old brittany girl and who was the boss - yep the 8 week old cocker pup!

If you know your dogs are likely to cope it is best to keep them at home and introduce in the garden. I periodically do short term fostering and will introduce a new dog in the same way, using a strong crate or my outdoor kennel if I feel there is likely to be any problem and always allowing my dogs the freedom to sniff a newbie while keeping newbie safe.

I've always done it pretty much the same way as everyone else has mentioned and agree that older dogs know that it's a pup. I introduced my flat-coat to the Fergus (my lab) outside, letting them have a good sniff and a play, but kept them seperate at night by putting the pup in a pen next to Fergus - before too long they slept together.

Fergus was introduced to Bailey at the breeders, but it was the same thing - they were left to have supervised sniffs.

Have to say I've never had any problems, but Fergus is calm and steady dog.

Let us know how you make out Ken. Have a wonderful trip home with the pup! We'll be waiting for pictures!

Well how did it go?

the pup is a dream he is fantastic and he is very taken with the oldeer male chocie lab.He tries to run with him and really has a thing for biting the chocie (Dylan) tail and trying to play with him.Dylan is extreamly patient and lets the pup take toys out of his mouth and stick his head in the water bowl when he is trying to get a drink.Now and again he gives a bark if he is pushing it to far but he really is a great tempered dog... the little 51/2 black lab not good she just growls at him and hides out on my bad all day if the pup even puts a paw into my room she starts to snarl at him.I have had them standing beside each other but she runs off and we have to coax her out of my room.We are trying to make equal fuss of all of them.Now I will say the girl is due into heat next month not sure if this makes a difference.My daughter thought she might cause a problem as she would be fuss she has to have her ball all the time..for example if Dylan (The chocie) ever picked up her tennis ball she would stalk him round the garden/house then when he set it down she would dive in and exchange it for the other tennis ball...she is eating ok as we keep them all separate to eat and when out for her walk at night when it is just my daughter and her she is her usual self.Any one any suggestions??

Leave her to it, if she wants to hide let her,
some dogs do go through this, after a week or so they start to come round
but dont force her or try to get her to be around the pup when she dosent want to
she will come round.