How long for dogs to accept a new puppy? Road trip soon after?

This can be a difficult question to answer because it will vary from dog to dog. The dog's personality will determine whether or not they adjust well to a new housemate. It does not necessarily matter whether the dog is older or younger. Some things you can do in the home when introducing new dogs are keeping the interactions very limited and making sure the dogs are under supervision the whole time they are getting to know each other. Also avoid feeding the dogs or giving them treats while they are together as this can sometimes cause aggressive behavior. Just be patient and work with the dogs individually and together and they should be able to get along fine. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

I am so sorry to hear about Maltida. It can be difficult for some dogs, especially an older dog, to get used to having a puppy in the house. It may be that Haden never develops the close bond with Ginger that he had with Maltida, only time will tell this. It is important now to be sure that Haden and Ginger are not competing for food, sleep areas, or attention. I would recommend feeding them in separate locations for now and being sure Haden has easy access to water and food when needed without having to compete with the puppy. Also be sure he has a place he can escape from the puppy if needed. Many times we get a puppy and they can overwhelm our older dog because they have much more energy and persistence. If Ginger is getting to be too much for Haden, allowing him to have his space/an area he can be away from her is important. You can read a little more about bringing new dogs into a household at https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/a-new-friend-for-fido/

That sounds like a lot of fun for Sara and the rest of the crew!!! I would definitely recommend to get all the dogs use to each other well before the trip, that way if there are some aggression issues or other problems, these can be addressed right away. It would be a good idea to get all the dogs use to long car rides. If some of the dogs don't travel well, you can talk to their vet about sedatives/anti-anxiety medications. Also you will need to make sure that all pets are up to date on vaccines as well as flea AND heartworm prevention. I recommend to use a more complete heartworm prevention such as Interceptor or even a combo product like Trifexis. These products prevent heartworm and also have activity against 3 intestinal worms. This is smart since the dogs will be traveling and thus have higher exposure. Lastly, you should carry with you the vaccine records and to be safe, get an interstate health certificate on each one. Best to work out any kinks well in advance and prepare for any legal situations. Have fun and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It may take some time for her to accept him. If she is being aggressive toward him than you should not allow them to be together unsupervised, espeically around feeding time or any toys/bones that she may protect. Give her extra attention, praise, and treats while the puppy is around so she knows he is not there to replace her. You could also try an Adaptil collar or diffuser and see if that helps. If she doesn't start accepting him than you could talk to your vet about trying an anti-anxiety medication, like Prozac or Trazodone and see if that helps.

It is very important that you do not bring the new puppy directly into your home with the older dog there, he will become territorial and see the puppy a an intruder. Instead, take them both (separately--you'll need an assistant for this) to a neutral place where neither has ever been. Introduce them there, and after a few minutes of play the older dog should feel that he's bringing his new buddy home. Be sure the puppy has his own crate, toys, bowl, etc. Either breed should be fine; the temperament of the individual dogs is more important than the breed itself.

It can be very stressful for the existing dog when a puppy is introduced. I am not sure what you have tried already but if it is not working then you could try an Adaptil collar, Solliquin chew, or talk to your vet about trying an anti-anxiety medication, like Trazodone to see if that helps relieve any anxiety your adult dog may have. Otherwise, you may need to get a professional trainer to come and work with your dogs. Here is a link with information on how to introduce a new puppy... https://indoorpet.osu.edu/dogs/new_additions_dogs/dog-dog-intro

Congrats on adding the new puppy to your household. These things can take time and patience but most pets will come around. Here is a helpful link: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-introduce-a-puppy-or-dog-to-your-older-dog/ Other things that will help including walking the dogs together, giving the older dog some alone time and keeping the puppy from getting too rough with the older dog. Also praise the older dog when she approaches the puppy or exhibits positive interest in the puppy. Please feel free to post any additional questions.