When adopting a puppy and bringing your newest best friend into a household that already includes dogs, training is key. And while most of us immediately think of potty training, crate training, and teaching puppies basic commands, introducing your existing dog to your new puppy and making sure things go smoothly (and safely) is obviously very important, too. Your older dog already has the lay of the land and has staked their own claim on their home and their people, so they, too, will be doing a little training with their new little brother or sister... whether they realize it or not!
The perfect of this happening — and happening perfectly, at that — can be seen in the following TikTok video. This dog somehow knew what his role as big brother would entail, and he ran with it.
Recently, @zeusandluna shared what happened when their German Shepherd , Zeus, was introduced to their new puppy, another German Shepherd named Luna, and immediately help teach her how to be a dog in their home.
While Zeus and Luna's human admitted that she did keep testing his patience (as puppies tend to do), this pup knew just how to handle the situation. He warned her away with the most gentle nips (despite how large those teeth are!) until she finally got the picture. This happened on multiple occasions, of course — puppies are good at nothing if not testing everyone's limits — but eventually, she did start getting the picture.
And obviously, this made for some very happy dog parents, who wrote, "The most important thing when getting a new puppy is to allow the older dog to teach them their place. And Zeus did a wonderful job."
It seems to have worked, because today, these two are getting along just fine — at least, well enough to hang out peacefully on the beach together.
Do Puppies Learn From Adult Dogs?
Even better news: Plenty of puppies out there have big brothers and sisters who will show them the ropes like Zeus did for Luna, because it's instinctual for many older dogs to take on this role when around younger dogs.
As animal behaviorist Dr. Karen B. London wrote for The Wildest, it's important for older dogs to teach puppies boundaries , exactly the way that Zeus was doing in the video.
That means when a puppy is pushing an older dog's buttons at a time when they don't want to be messed with, they might put their mouth on them, paw them, or growl. Eventually, the puppy will learn that it means their behaviors are unwanted.
"I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that this boundary setting by older dogs should be calm, fair, and measured," Dr. London wrote. "The idea is to teach (mentor!) the little one, not scare them or upset them. Setting boundaries helps young dogs learn what is allowed and what is not and helps them develop self control."
Zeus should get extra treats for all his hard working helping to shape Luna into the amazing dog she'll be in the future!
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