One of the stranger traits you may have witnessed your dog doing is the act of drooling around a new puppy. If your dog is exhibiting excessive drooling in the presence of your puppy, it can be unsettling and worrying about what will happen next.
There are many possible reasons why your dog may be drooling around puppies. I have given very brief answers below. Please read further so you can determine exactly why your dog is doing this and when you should be worried.
Why is my dog drooling around my new puppy? Dogs will slobber and drool around new puppies due to stress, excitement, jealousy and desire. This will be a visual clue as to the exact reason your dog is drooling around the puppy as described below.
Why Dogs Drool Around New Puppies
But which one is right for your dog? For example, if your dog is a female, it may be a very different cause of salivation compared to a male. I would say, though, that when a dog exhibits drooling behavior around puppies, it hardly ever stems from outright aggression.
Instead, it is often triggered by several different emotional and physical factors. All you have to do is look online to see how common this behavior is, and dog owners from all over the world are looking for answers about the causes of this unique phenomenon.
Naturally, this bizarre quirk makes pet parents nervous. After all, drooling is surely a sign of aggression, or at least a clear sign of distress.
Here are the various reasons why dogs drool when approaching a new puppy. Reading through all of them, you should hopefully determine the reason you are witnessing drooling behavior.
1. Stress and anxiety
Feelings of stress and anxiety are one of the more common causes of excessive drooling in dogs. As confident and assertive as we may think our dogs are, they can still experience uncomfortable emotions, especially in new and unfamiliar situations, regardless of their breed or personality.
Often, dogs will drool when they are confused or unsure of how to react to a puppy. You will also see very similar behaviors around human babies.
Therefore, it is important to introduce your dog to young puppies slowly to ensure they are not overwhelmed.
While at first glance this may not seem like a big deal, dogs can quickly become very nervous and anxious if they don’t have time to adjust to a new canine in the home.
If the right steps are not taken, adult dogs can quickly develop anxiety issues around puppies that can last a lifetime.
In addition, some dogs can begin to make negative associations in this way, which can lead to an increased chance of them showing aggressive tendencies around puppies in the future.
2. Excitement
At the best of times, dogs are easily excited animals and often want to play, chase and jump when they encounter something new. It is for this reason that many friendly or energetic dogs drool around puppies, especially when meeting a new puppy for the first time.
While this behavior in itself is not particularly worrisome, overexcitement should be avoided in most cases, as it can lead to dangerous fights.
Very young puppies, for example, are fragile and can easily be injured, sometimes severely, after playing with or roughhousing an older canine.
Therefore, you should always move your dog away from your puppy when they begin to show signs of over-excitement. Some common signs to look for are excessive jumping, panting, random pacing, barking, chattering teeth, and full-body shaking – and, of course, drooling and drooling near the puppy.
After about a week, your dog should begin to calm down naturally and stop drooling around the new puppy. However, it’s important to remember that you should be alert to signs of overexcitement, at least for the first few weeks.
When your puppy is in the same room as your older dog, always stay close by and monitor their interactions together. As your puppy begins to grow into an adult, he will naturally become more resilient and often choose to start fights on his own.
3. Jealousy
Unfortunately, dogs are no strangers to jealousy. Just like their human counterparts, they will become jealous if they are no longer the center of attention or receive less than normal levels of affection – often drooling over this perceived slight.
It’s not uncommon for dog owners to love their new puppy, give them treats, play with them, and teach them new tricks. Likewise, children may become particularly enamored with puppies and simply stop paying attention to older dogs.
In this case, it is not uncommon to see both male and female dogs drooling around puppies of all ages.
Therefore, if you want your new puppy and resident dog to accept and love each other, it is important to give them equal attention. For example, if you have young children, try to explain to them that your older dog will start to feel sad if they only spend time with their new puppy.
Likewise, encourage activities that also involve both dogs, such as walks in the park and playing games.
Also, be aware of your dog’s favorite toys and stop your puppy from taking them away when needed. Without a healthy balance, two dogs will quickly develop an unhealthy relationship in the future, leading to fights over food, affection and toys.
4. Health problems
David from Heararound says excessive drooling may indicate that your dog is suffering from a health problem, whether the dog is drooling around the new puppy or not.
For example, anything that prevents your dog from swallowing properly can lead to this unfortunate trait, as it causes saliva to gradually build up and leak out of the mouth.
Fractured teeth, tartar buildup and inflamed gums are the most likely causes, although tumors and foreign objects stuck in the mouth can also cause excessive drooling. If you suspect this is the case, take your dog to the vet immediately.
Drooling can also be a side effect of your dog’s upset stomach. Motion sickness is often the biggest culprit and can cause nausea and other signs of illness.
Likewise. If your dog is prone to motion sickness and has just gone with you to pick up your new puppy, be sure to wait a while before introducing them to each other.
How to stop your dog from drooling near your new puppy
Thankfully, there are many ways to stop your dog’s habit of drooling around your puppy. First, as mentioned above, you should first rule out any health issues that may be causing the problem.
If your dog is constantly drooling around your puppy, discuss the problem with your veterinarian and try to rule out any medical issues that may be causing this behavior. Get a Kuoser bandana for your dog.
In many cases, your veterinarian may suggest that your dog (especially in stressful situations) should be given a calming snack or spray treatment before meeting their new brother.
Often, when it comes to nervous or excited dogs, make sure you have created a relaxed and peaceful environment to welcome the new puppy. You should first remove toys and other distractions, then make sure your puppy stays calm and only introduce your dog after they have gone a long way.
If your dog starts drooling, remove them from the room for a few minutes and then reintroduce them. After a few repetitions, your dog should begin to visibly calm down and hopefully stop drooling.
Finally, remain patient, as it may take a week or two for your dog to become fully accustomed to the puppy’s presence.
Conclusion
Bringing home a new puppy for the first time can often be a traumatic and scary experience for dog lovers, especially if they already have a puppy that may be territorial.
While most dogs will react positively to a new puppy in the home, there is no guarantee that every dog will do so. Similar to humans, dogs exhibit a variety of personality traits and it is often difficult to predict how they will react to a new canine in the home.
In addition, it is not uncommon for dogs to exhibit strange behavior at the best of times, and this is most evident when a new puppy seems to appear out of nowhere.
