We lost our 14 yr old springer and our 7 yr old springer is about to have a new friend on Friday. Any ideas on how to introduce a new puppy to an older dog. Thanks.
A good way of introduicing them is for your dog to 'find' the puppy in your garden. I've just posted on a forum full of dog breeders - will await their response and put their reply on here.
I would disagree with Rosi, your dog "finding" another dog on it's territory may not go well!
I've had dogs all my life and have introduced additional dogs and cats to them successfully. I would suggest the best way to introduce a new dog would be to take your 7 year old with you when you go to collect the new addition and let them meet on "neutral" ground. I would then stop off at a park on the way home and give them a chance to play together, although this is a bit difficult as you will need to keep the puppy on a lead and it's best if they are both on leads. If there's any fighting then try again but in a different part of the park or even a different park. Don't try to force them to show each other attention, the older dog might prefer to weigh the pup up from a distance first.
When you get home, place their beds as far apart as possible, preferably without relocating your 7 yr old's bed. When you know they get on you should be able to move the beds closer, mine have always ended up with their beds next to each other. Feed them as far apart as possible (even separate rooms if need be) and gradually move them closer. Remove anything the older dog is likely to guard from the pup such as favourite toys etc until they've settled in together.
I've successfully introduced not just pups but also adult rescue dogs and cats to dogs that I've already had and have never had a problem apart from the odd scuffle to begin with (the small ones are best left, it's how they sort out the pecking order, just intervene if you get a full on fight). Just remember that food, territory, belongings and attention from you are the most likely times your 7 year old might challenge or correct the pup, if there is disagreement then take whatever is causing the problem away from both dogs. Of course, you may be pleasantly surprised and find that, especially as your older dog has lived with another dog before, he/she will accept the new addition regardless.
I would disagree with Rosi, your dog "finding" another dog on it's territory may not go well!
I would agree with you there, Bannick, but just a word of caution about the public parks. Depending on the age of the puppy, of course, this might not be a good idea in relation to jabs for immunity. Neutral but safer ground, disease wise, might be the better option.
Personally, I've never had a problem when a new puppy has been brought into the house, whether we had only one existing family dog [all bitches, actually] or I was introducing a new one into my existing small 'pack'.
Holistic
I've just had a reply from the breeders forum - the method I have spoken about is the recommended method. One of the ladies vets recommends this method and the vet nurses say it works every time.
Note that I am speaking about a puppy and not an adult dog; with an adult dog I wouldn't recommend this method either, but with puppies, older dogs are more accepting.
Many of the breeders on this forum have introduced puppies in this method with no problems at all.