We brought home a 20-week-old dachshund puppy a few days ago to join our 9-year-old rat terrier, and honestly we’re feeling way more overwhelmed than we expected. There’s been barking, growling, and snapping when they get too close, so we’re keeping them mostly separated with crates, gates, and rotations. That said, there are moments when they can actually be in the same room quietly, which gives us some hope, but everything still feels really fragile and tense.
On top of that, the puppy is having a hard time with confinement. He barks, cries, digs, and sometimes panics in his kennel or pen before eventually settling, and it’s been emotionally exhausting to listen to. We also have to juggle feeding and potty breaks separately since our older dog eats everything at once and the puppy grazes, which makes even basic routines feel complicated.
I’m realizing a lot of what I’m feeling is puppy blues, but it’s still really intense. I feel anxious, guilty, and honestly sometimes I feel regret and like I made a bad decision, which feels awful to even admit. We love both dogs and just want to do right by them, but right now it feels like we’re constantly trying to keep things from going wrong.
We’re looking for reassurance, advice, and success stories from people who’ve introduced a puppy to an older dog and gone through this stressful phase. Does this actually get better, and what helped you make it work?
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