Advice needed in helping adopted doggy fit into our 'pack'

[NickyandRosy]

Hi, any advice welcome and much appreciated. We have recently adopted a sweet little cavoodle from a family who no longer can keep her. She is very young, only eighteen months and has only known her old family, which included another dog who was re-homed elsewhere.

She has come into our home with our two dogs who are very sweet mostly but have taken some issue to the new family member. Particularly our alpha female (a chiuahua) who appears none too happy with the arrangement. Not aggressive really, just a bit growly but makes the little one cower and slink away v quickly!

Usually our dogs sleep with my daughter, but because it's all new and strange for the little one I have removed them from their usual possie and just put the new one into her bed. I am hoping that she will establish some kind of territory there and also a bond with my daughter. Am I doing the right thing, or is this going to create more issue/jealousy with the other dogs?

Does anyone have any other tips or advice to help make the transition for our new little friend as easy and stress-free as possible? Or does anyone know of any websites or links dealing with this type of thing?

[marg]

I am no expert, but I really don't think the sleeping arrangment is a good thing to do. You don't want to upset your old dogs by making things different for them. They may have some kind of resentment toward the new pup. Hopefully, they will come around and be the best of friends. Give them time and give ALL of them the attention they need. They will establish who the dominant one is, you don't need to help with that. Good luck.:)

[dlaura]

I tend to agree with Marg. It will make the original dogs in the family really feel displaced to be removed from their sleeping arrangement due to the new dog. Is there room for them all to sleep there? Maybe snuggling with them all on the bed during the day and giving treats for good behavior will help reinforce that you want the new dog accepted by all.

[NickyandRosy]

Thanks marg and dlaura for your thoughts. Yes I agree I don't want to put any doggy noses out of joint! Mishka (the cavoodle) ended up sleeping happily in Rosy's bed last night and I put the other dogs back in v early the next morning. There was a bit of growly behaviour but then everyone seemed to settle in. Lucky she has a double bed to fit them all in!

Mishka seems a lot more settled today and alpha female Bendi has not growled at her once today. I do agree these things will take time to settle in but fingers crossed I think things are going in the right direction. Perhaps just the human alpha female (ie me) being a little overly apprehensive!

Thanks so much for your help and advice, much appreciated!

Nicky from Oz

[tandy]

Experts say that you should introduce a new dog to an esablished pack on neutral territory before bringing a new pet into the household. Then bring them in the house together as one pack. That way they all fit in together. But I guess that is too late for you. I surely hope things will work out with your pets. Good luck.