My Puppy Will Not Leave My Older Dog Alone. What Do I Do?

Your older dog gets up and moves to another room, and the puppy follows. The older dog lies down, and the puppy is chewing their ear. There is a grumble, then a sigh, and you are suddenly running a tiny referee shift that never ends. A puppy's energy and an older dog's patience rarely match on their own - and the AKC's advice is clear that leaving them to sort it out is not the plan.

What is actually going on

• To a puppy, the resident dog is the most interesting thing in the house, and puppy play is bouncy, mouthy and repetitive. For the older dog, that can mean being followed, climbed on and chewed on all day.
• Some adult dogs can correct a puppy appropriately - the AKC notes that a measured correction, at the right time and intensity, can teach manners - but you cannot count on your older dog to be that kind of teacher.
• The catch: you cannot know in advance whether your older dog is that kind of teacher. The same AKC guidance lists growling, snapping and snarling among the identifiable signs of aggression, and warns that a puppy who keeps harassing can push the older dog into avoidance or real conflict.
• So supervise every interaction and separate them early. A grumble from the older dog is a clear message that they need more room than they are getting.

Breaks, rotation and safe spaces

• Keep interactions "short and sweet," and always supervised - in the early weeks the two dogs should not be alone together at all (AKC).
• Rotate them through the day: sometimes the puppy is in a pen or crate, sometimes the older dog relaxes in another room. Both dogs need a safe space to retreat to.
• Feed them separately and pick up food and toys between sessions, so there is nothing to compete over.
• Protect the older dog's normal life: keep their walks and routines, and keep up their one-on-one time with you. Whole Dog Journal adds a simple helper - tire both dogs out separately before they spend time together.

Let the older dog choose

• Try the consent test the AKC describes: every minute or two, gently and cheerfully move the puppy away. If the older dog chooses to come back and re-engage, the play can continue. If they do not, they are done - and that choice deserves respect.
• Reward the puppy for calm near the older dog. Practicing relaxation on opposite sides of a gate, where they can see each other without interacting, is one AKC suggestion for building that skill.
• If your older dog seems worried rather than playful, go slower still: Whole Dog Journal recommends "protected contact," sniffing through a pen or gate for at least several days, before looser contact.

Related: if you are unsure whether what you are watching is play or too much.