Our new working cocker puppy arrived three days ago.  At the risk of tempting fate, I must say that he is wonderful, and has settled in really well.  However, our older dog, Molly, (five years old) is very unhappy about the new arrival.  She isn't being mean to him, and he is actually being quite restrained around her (I was worried that he would torment her, but we made sure that he has his own separate area to play in) but she is clearly put out.  She doesn't want to be near him and even flounces out of the room sometimes when he is there.  We are making sure that she gets even more attention than usual, but she just looks so sad and isn't her usual waggy self.  I feel really guilty about bringing the new pup into the house and upsetting her, and I'm wondering if she is likely to get over this.  We deliberately went for a dog although we'd have preferred a bitch as we thought they would be more likely to get along. Might she just be wary of very young puppies (she has been in the past, whilst being fine with older pups and dog)?  Will she be happier around him once he calms down and they can go on walks together? I'd be interested to hear other people's experiences of having an older dog adjust to a new pup.  Did they get over the initial upset, or am I looking at Molly being unhappy for the forseeable future?

She's sulking its hard to be your best dog and  she has been partially supplanted. Bit like kids really you are going along the right track by extra loving, when she finds what the pup is good for she will get better. At the moment I can hear her saying "she's trying to get rid of me". Things will improve when the pup is not so damn cute!! Plus company when you arent there shes just thinks to have a cheek to try and replace her!!! We also (got two) and they are exercised apart sometimes so the older dog can have the quality time and realise that she can still be your "best dog" and he's just a new friend not a rival.

When I got my male mastiff pup, my current dog was nearly 14 yrs old (castrated male). The old dog was not impressed atall about having a puppy around, he even started to refuse to eat. For the first 2 weeks pup spent most of his time in the kitchen, only being allowed out of there on a lead, this helped stop the older dog being overwhelmed by the pup, (it also helped with the cat getting used to the pup & also helped with lead training :) ). After then the pup was allowed out of the kitchen without the lead, but only ever with supervision to start with, as the old dog got more used to the pup they even started t oplay together. I can't remember the time scale, but the pup soon merged in to the point of only being shut in the kitchen if i was going out this progressed to having free-run of the house (not upstairs - he doesn't 'do' stairs) with the old dog.
The old dog has completely accepted the pup as part of the family, due to his age he really isn't interested in playing now though so I always keep an eye out to make sure he gets the peacefull life he's after.

I thought my old dog would have loved the pup from the start as when friends/family have brought thier dogs/pups over he has loved to play with them. I think it was more of a case of him gettting his nose pushed out of joint with a permentant pup as  a pup visiting for play time would have been his idea of a good time.

Make sure your older dog has somewhere she can escape to if she wants to get away from pup, but give them time, she will get used to pup.

hi i have just brought a new weimar puppy into my home ,i already have elsie the mini schnauzer who is 2 and a half and meamia the weimar who is now 8. meamia is not happy about the situation at all and although we done everything correct in the way of gradually introducing them and giving meami a few extra privilages she still hasnt come round. its been two weeks now.we have introduced meami to two new puppies in the past and she has been brill with them she was 4 and then 6 at that time . im putting it down to old age now but in saying that is still full of fun when she plays with my mini schnauzer.they both sleep right beside each other. the new puppy and the schnauzer adore each other so maybe its a jealousy thingon meami's part. i am confident that these two will finally get along and your two also, every thing takes time  good luck xx

Thanks for the replies.  Things are improving slightly.  Molly is no longer acting like the world has ended and is back to wagging her tail and sitting on our laps.  She still has been avoiding the puppy, but this evening when he was playing in his pen she went up to the pen with her tail wagging, he started playbowing, and she briefly responded before remembering that, actually, she isn't supposed to like him!  I think, in time, she might realise that he could be fun to play with, but we're keeping them apart as much as possible until his bite inhibition has developed, as Molly is easily spooked.  At the moment he's acting like he's auditioning for Jaws.

Sounds like you're already on the right track :-D

As you will be feeding the pup several times a day, have you considered giving your older dog 'something nice' at the same time?  

I found this a great way of convincing an older pet that the 'little-un' is a GOOD THING!   :-D   I actually split the older one's food for a while and fed them at the same time - with a bit of tasty on top -  it's remarkable how something tasty makes all the difference :-D :-D

Most dogs are a bit put out by a newcomer. Delilah was 2 when Zorro arrived, and she was much the same. he arrived aged 10 weeks. by the time he was 12 weeks they were friends. Now they are inseperable!

That's a great idea.  Poor Molly has been looking confused at Barney's mealtimes, and clearly wondering why he gets dinner at that time and she doesn't.  I'm going to start splitting her meals, feeding her just before him and giving her some fresh titbits with it. 
Thanks for your comments, everyone. 

Henry sulked for a few days when I brought Ellie home, he totally ignored me! Splitting her meals is a great idea to make her feel equally loved. :-)