We have a 1 year old border collie female; we just got another puppy that is now 12 weeks old. The thing is if the puppy does something wrong during the puppies training the older dog thinks she is in trouble. Or when we are trying how to train puppy like sit or stay the older dog feels left out and gets upset and wants extra attention making it hard to focus on the puppy. I feel bad if I put her in her puppy training crate while I train him because she looks at me like she feels left out. I know we needed to give her extra attention, but the thing is the puppy is having hard time learning. Its really like monkey see monkey do. And if the older dog is not there he does not know what to do. What can I do that both dogs would benefit. There both very sweet and good tempered. They’re like my kids. when I put the puppy in the puppy training crate he throws the biggest fit and will whine, bark and cry to be with her if they are seperated. It makes it tough to crate train puppy. He is more attached to her then me.
This is often the case when you have 2 dogs living together.You mention that your puppy will throw the biggest fit if he’s seperated from your older dog and that he’s more attached to her then you.This often happens when the puppy becomes more reliant on the older dog for companionship, play and communication.When we purchased our 2nd dog, we trained, walked, played and fed him separately from our older bitch as a big part of the puppies training.
Yes your older dog may look as if she feels left out but it’s in the best interest of both dogs if done this way.Walking your puppy seperatly etc gives you time to strengthen your relationship with your puppy and devote much needed training time and socilisation.
Many people assume when they get a new pup that it will learn off the older dog and be socilised by the older dog, this is not totally the case, as older dogs also teach puppies bad behaviours, thought hey do help to stop a puppy biting. Socilisation needs to be done separately away from your older dog, so the puppy builds his own confidence up without relying on your older dog.
Again training needs to be done separately; if possible join a puppy training class where just you and your puppy go and spend quality bonding time together. Commit to a quality how to train puppy program. At home you could train in a different room to your older dog. It’s important you build a strong bond up with both dogs so they dont become to engrossed in each other, as training becomes very difficult when both dogs won’t listen to you as they don’t value you as high ranking as they do each other. Good luck.
