Hi all

We have three dogs, mum 4, daughter 16months, and a new puppy unrelated of 10weeks.
I obviously want the puppy to bond with me as I would like to do obedience and some gundog work with him. My question is that how much contact can he have with the older dogs so that it doesn't interfere with the initially bonding process, as at the moment if we are all in the garden together (which is large and interesting for him) he would rather play with the other dogs than me.
We do have the facilities to seperate them , but ideally I like my dogs in the house with me.
Any views and opinions appreciated. Thanks.

I will also be interested in any opinions on this, as in just under 5 weeks I will be collecting a puppy. At the moment I have 4 older dogs, 10,8,4 and 21/2 years all have been rescues so this is also my first very young pup and also my first pedigree pup from a breeder.
I am hoping to show the pup when she is older so I want to get the early socialisation right
Thank you Jackie

My new pups that I have brought into the house have always socialised with the other dogs. Also at training classes in the baby class they have always been allowed to say hello to others but if you teach the pup away from the other dogs at home and keep its attention on you at classes then the pup will bond with you, as you are the one to teach it the things that you want it to learn. Take it out seperately when exercising or training and that also helps with the bonding process. I don't think it matters if the pup sleeps in with you or somewhere else as then it is, or should be, at rest and sleeping ready for a new day to begin, with you teaching etc. the things that you want it to learn. Interaction with other dogs and people is important as it makes for a better rounded pup/dog.:) During the day when it is tired or should be,:) give it somewhere to be alone and rest, so that it gets used to being alone. After the time is up for resting you should be the first thing that it sees and responds to, then it can go and play for a while with the other dogs.:)

thanks for the post, it was interesting reading, as so many books i have read  say don't let pups play with other resident dogs too much as they will prefer them to you !!(don't want that really, I like my dogs focussed on me and ready to please) Do your dogs all sleep together?
Michelle

When the two sisters were very young they slept together but as they got older and one was mine and the other my daughters they slept in our bedrooms. The newest one which is three years old sleeps on her own because thats the way she likes it, she could, if she wanted to, come in to our bedrooms anytime during the night but she doesn't until she hears us all move in the morning and then comes in for a cuddle on the bed with either just me, (my hubby has gone to work by then, 6.30am,) or with the older one and sometimes the sister comes in aswell. I get up then, not enough room on the bed with three mucking about.:) During the day they sleep where they like but usually mine sleep near me so that if I move they can come with me in case I do something interesting?:) They all trained together but also went out seperately for one to one training and being with us as our companions. I have had seven dogs in the house at one time and all new when to switch on to us as 'trainers/companions' on a one to one basis but they also new when they could play together and socialise with other dogs when out. Its' all down to what you find exceptable really. Good Luck with whatever you decide to do. I am sure you will get there.:)

It very much depends on the dog.  My two youngest dogs are a month apart in age, something I would NEVER, EVER recommend anyone do on purpose. ;)  At 13 and 14 months old now, the youngest, a boy, is doing really well with his agility training and he will work for me oblivious to all the other dogs running about.  The girl, a month older, is brilliant one to one with me and gradually I am getting her to do stuff with other dogs about but she is hard work.  So the boy can spend all day with, and go out with the others, yet he'd still rather be with me whilst the girl prefers to play with the other dogs so I have to limit her playtime with them and take her out on her own or with the boring oldies.  It can have a lot to do with how they are reared.  If they have lots of handling from the breeder and have lots of human visitors when they are in the nest then they will become more 'people orientated'.  Dogs bred in farm conditions with little human contact will more likely prefer the company of other dogs.  I would definately walk the new pup separately more often than not.  And the more dogs you have at home the more you need to get puppy out and socialising without 'the gang'.

A good test would be to see who puppy greets when you come home from walking the other dogs.  You or them?? :)  When he greets you first you know you've cracked it. :D

I've got a similar situation here with two young puppies (a 12wk lab and a 10wk springer) along with four adults.

I think for optimum performance you would keep the pup away from the older ones as much as possible. However, I am sure that you will be able to find a sensible compromise balance.

I'd advise to make sure that at least a couple of times a day, you spend some quality time individually with the puppy in the garden. Keep the others well away during this time. As he grows up, try and walk and train him individually (rather than with the other dogs) as often as you are able.

If during these early indivual sessions, you find it easy to keep the pups attention on you, then I'd say you are getting the balance about right. If you are struggling, i would increase the individual attention and reduce the time spent with other dogs.

The tricky thing with puppies that spend all day with older dogs is that they are have such a sustained level of play, that it becomes more difficult to find a time when they are fresh and ready for a training / bonding session and not exhausted from chasing round with the other dogs.

With regards to Sally's point about different dogs. The labrador I bred myself and has had loads of human contact, and I can easily call her away from anything that is going on with the other dogs. However, the springer (bought in with much less socialisation) is much harder work.

i use to have a bernese mountain dog, and she was kept with two adults. I took them all out for walks together and did their basic training together, however if i wanted her to do something specifically, for example pulling the bales of hay, then i would take her off by herself. i think she realised that she had to work for me then but i do not think that splitting her from the other dogs all the time would have been a good idea because she would not have been able to play with her own kind

I too have a similar situation in that I have a 6 month and 15 month old BCs.  Generally first thing in the morning they go out separately.  Out together at lunch time and then again in the evening but I take pup and my OH takes the older one.  That way I can work on his lead work etc. 

If we are training them at home then one is taken out of the equation to play with OH whilst I work with them.  Otherwise they spend their time together.  As they are such different dogs they have bonded well but the younger one has also bonded very well with me.  I think it has to be quality time that you spend with them on their own and that way they can't wait for that time.  They are great together but also great on their own with their own ways.  One is very good at obedience (pup) and the older one is great at agility (since the younger one cant do it yet). 

At night, they have the run of the house although the older one tends to sleep downstairs on the wooden flooring as it is cooler and the younger one under our bed.

Hope this helps.