How you introduce a new dog (puppy) into the life of your existing dog can make or break the relationship between the two. Mature or older dogs may feel like they are being squeezed out and can quickly start resenting the new dog.

I arrange for my existing dogs to be outside when I bring the new dog home. I let the new dog walk all around the house sniffing all the scents of the household and existing dogs. Then I remove the new dog (maybe have someone hold him in the front yard) and let the existing dogs back into the house, letting them track every step the new dog took as they learn all they can about him. At that point they go back outside and I bring the new dog in and put him in his crate, then the existing dogs come back in.

They are allowed into the room where the new dog is crated so they can all sniff him up close and personal but without physical contact. When they are finished I put them into their crates and let the new dog loose to sniff them up close and personal. I do not let my new dog have physical contact with my existing dogs until I find the existing dogs laying up beside the crate of the new dog, or in the case of a puppy until the puppy has grown enough that the big dogs cannot hurt him by accident.

Make sure you continue to spend one on one time with your existing dog to avoid hurt feelings!