I'm hoping someone has some advice. I have a 2 and a half year old male staffie and recently brought home an 8 week old female staffie. The first meeting he seemed excited and initiated play. Over the next few days he has played with her and even lay sleeping beside her but will not correct her annoying behaviour. The last two days he has been standing in the kitchen or hallway with his tail between his legs and is clearly scared. As I said he doesn't correct her unwanted behaviour just allows it and walks away to the point I need to pick up the new pup. Our house is not the biggest so we've got the couch as his haven away from her as she is too small to reach, he's able to go upstairs but doesn't leave the area. We've been taking him out for long walks and even my parents will take him for a couple of hours once in a while to give him a break. We are crate training the puppy and she is sleeping very well in the crate so I don't want to crate her during the day as I'm worried she will see it as punishment. Sorry this is long but my dog is giving mixed messages of one minute playing and the next hiding and I don't know what to do to help them.

Its your job to correct the puppy not his. Get a crate or pen so she can go in there when he is being bothered by her. Utilise baby gates as well. You need to teach the pup what is acceptable and what is not, not your adult dog.

OK thanks. It's just I've read so many things that say that the dogs have their own communication they need to teach each other and if I'm getting involved it prevents this from happening. I do take the pup away when he's getting annoyed just didn't know how much to intervene.

Adult dogs will let puppies do pretty much anything when they are younger than 12-14 weeks, it's the so called puppy license. It
is built into them to not hurt pups. Also male dogs are far less likely to want to interact with pups. So yes you need to stop the pup when she becomes too much.

Your boy is being excellent with your new puppy.   Adults know not to attack (or correct!) puppies because they have sharp teeth and it hurts! but if pushed too far AND YOU DON'T TAKE CHARGE! they might and obviously this is the last thing you want.  When your dog sees YOU taking charge and correcting the puppy, not him, he should start to settle down with his new friend.   I would say that normally bitches rule so once she's older and he realises what she is, this pack order should sort itself out.   When it gets to around 6 months, you will have to be expecting her first season and making arrangements to get your boy out of there or her spayed (I prefer not to spay a bitch until the growth plates have closed, but you may have to, or he'll go nuts unless he gets to mate with her - and puppies shouldn't ever have puppies!)

So correct puppy if she over-steps the mark and is clearly annoying him, feed separated, watch out if he's toy possessive etc., and with any luck, things will work out.   Oh and for now, I don't think you should leave them alone (unless puppy is crated) unsupervised.

OK that's great, about 90% of information out there was saying don't intervene as it is preventing their growth of understanding how dogs communicate but I have been removing the pup from him when it was getting too much so I really appreciate the advice I will be stepping in sooner and correcting. Just want my boy to be happy and my girl to grow up balanced as him.

MamaBas thank you for the advice I was removing the pup when it got too much but not as soon as I should of, so it helps to know I won't be doing the wrong thing. I've never had two dogs at the same time and when you're reading things off of "advice" pages that say don't correct this as it could damage their ability to communicate. I'm glad there is places like this to come and get clear advice. He is an exceptional dog and such a kind soul, Ive been worrying about it since we got her, not been a week yet but wanted to get things clear of what I should be doing. They are never left unattended and I've ordered a baby gate so I have two areas for them for when it gets too much. Thanks again!

When I bring a new puppy home , my males usually keep well away & my females after a thorough washing start playing & mothering. It's a gender thing on the whole.

I totally agree with the replies,  when I introduced my pup to my older dog (7 year difference), he too would be extremely patient with the pup, my way of dealing with it,was to step in when the pup was getting too much,  usually by distracting her from him, but also telling her to cool it.
Puppies will be puppies and it's down to the owner's to set the boundaries.
My pup is now 2 and half so much of the puppy behaviour has gone, but occasionally she does go a little over the top,at which point I tell her to cool it.