Help!! We brought home our new puppy

[kariRN]

I need some advice. We brought home our new boxer baby last night. We have a 7 1/2 yr old brindle and now this 11 week old brindle. George (our older dog) seemed very interested but Max immediatly started growling at him. We have Max in a crate and George actually slept right next to the crate all night. This morning we tried to "introduce" them outside and the puppy went after George. We also have an older lab mix female who was ok with him this morning but Max put his head on her back which I know is a sign of dominance. I am very worried. I know we have to expect a gradual acceptance and Max needs to learn his place in the pack but I am just concerned about his aggression. He was with 4 adult boxers before we were able to pick him up and he was fine with them.

 

[ehayes21]

Aggression and dominance displays in an 11 week old pup is virtually unheard of. What do you mean when you say the puppy goes "after" George?

 

[Cami]

No reason AT ALL to be worried about how the pup is acting at this age. Max is still very much ALL baby.
The growling is normal. "Going after" is play. The older dogs will be his very best teacher. Of course you can stop unwanted behavior by redirecting him when he does something you don't care for but the two other dogs are your ace in the hole, so to speak. He will take direction from them much better. He knows their language!

 

[kariRN]

update.... things are settling down. Max actually laid on his back in front of George which makes me feel so much better. Submissive is good!! We had a quiet moment without the kids around and George actually laid next to Max on the cushions outside. It was very cute. Then Max turns it all around and gets all hyper and starts jumping and biting at George of which George has no patience for,so he got up and went inside. It's baby steps but at least they are steps in the right direction.

 

[kayboxer]

AWWW! I'm glad to hear they are doing better. I know the older I get, the crankier I get and the less patient I become. I guess it's the same in the dog world.