Safely introducing a new puppy?

So we have decided we want a new addition to the family. Casper is a little over a year old and is calming down a lot. I think ive found the new puppy we would like so I'm now thinking ahead to introducing her to Casper. What is the best and safest way to do this? Obviously there is a bit of a size difference and I don't want him to accidently hurt a puppy. He does still get jumpy when excited, although I am working on this with him. They won't be getting any unsupervised contact initially and will be going outside separately until I'm confident they will get along. Are there any signs I should look out for between them? He isn't aggressive but does still 'mouth' at times. I intend to also keep them apart for a little while each day so they each get their own time and also to work on their training. He has a crate in my lounge with all his toys and cushions in, I am assuming this should stay his and his alone at least initially?

Neutral ground first is the best idea, as long as you are present when they are together just to make sure things dont get too rough. Good luck and pics please

There maybe something of interest here
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t26079-how-to-introduce-a-new-pup-household

we love pics here https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t12017-how-to-post-a-photos-onto-the-forum

I do have another question but will post it in the puppy bit if you don't mind having a look and giving your thoughts...

Agree with Inez, neutral territory is usually best but if she hasn't had her injections and can't go for a walk yet, take him for a long walk to tire him out before you go to collect her. If you have a crate I would crate train her and leave her in this when they're alone. But initially introducing through a barrier would help. If you have a baby gate they could meet either side of this. Is he generally good with other dogs on walks etc? Doesn't have any problems with resource guarding/jealousy that you've noticed? It's good that they're opposite sex too, that may help.

He loves other dogs. I've seen no signs of aggression in him at all. He just wants to play. That being said he is always on a lead when he comes in contact with other dogs so I have maintained the control over him, it might be different if he was loose? The pup hasn't had injections, but I am assuming (hoping) she will be ok here as Casper has had his? Myself and the children can all remove his toys, even out of his mouth if we want, and he doesn't have an issue with that so I am saying no possessiveness over his things but again that could be different if it was a new dog coming onto his domain? I intend to get the puppy it's own crate and toys etc and will ensure the pup has had the toys and been in the crate before he even knows they exist, so that maybe he will not see them as his even though they are in his home. But feel free to correct me if I'm thinking daft and idealistically.

Positive that his doggy interactions have been good so far he may be boisterous when he's off lead, but if he's getting OTT just take a break and try again. My dog can be quite boisterous in play, but seems to know that she has to be gentle with pups and smaller dogs - we have fostered lots of puppies and she walks with a chihuahua regularly, and has never hurt any of them. Yet when she plays with a friend's american bull dog she's very full on!

Yep, she should be fine in house til her vaccs are covered as long as Casper is covered and no toys etc are left in the garden before being brought in. May be different possession wise with another dog, but just monitor and feed seperately/don't bring any toys into the equation until they know eachother a little better. Give them toys seperately when it's crate time and the doors are shut. He may still see them at his - again my girl loves her teddies and carries them everywhere like they're her puppies, but she has always been happy to share. Controlled settings with little stimulus will be key for the first little while. Try not to worry!

All good advice from the posts above.

I would let him sniff her back end through the baby gate so that he knows she is a bitch puppy. Just a thought. As Rachel typed above "Try not to worry" that's important because your dog will relax more if he can see that you look more relaxed.

Ok first introduction done.. Initially with her in her crate and him out loose..they sniffed each other and he licked her through the bars so I put him on his lead and let her out..they've both sniffed the others back end, she has rolled on to her back for him. Then he's pawed her around a bit ..she's come out barking and attempting to nip his nose and he's barked back..the whole time his tail was wqgging though so I'm taking it as a good first meet..they're now seperate again as she took to hiding so I'm guessing she has had enough for the time being..
Is this the way to go with having them together for a few days, as he is also very hyper and she is so tiny I'm worried he will bounce and land on her and do some damage. Or should I just let them get on with it and leave her learn to move and him to become aware of where she is?

Sounds very positive I would keep giving him time outs if he's getting a bit rough, as it's probably all very exciting for him and will be hard for him to self moderate. I'd probably say take him out for a biiig walk on his own in the morning to tire him out and then introduce them again.

Ok so do I keep them apart now until morning then? they have a crate each (I bougt him a new one today) set up in my front room. I see I have two options here if I'm to keep them apart until morning, keep one shut in their crate while the other one is out and swapping every so often, or putting them in totally seperate rooms? He's outside in the garden at the moment and she is in her crate. I can put him in the kitchen when I bring him in but would that give him the idea that she is taking his place as she is in the living room with his family?

I wouldn't leave them alone together, but if you're there with them bring him into the room where her crate is and leave her shut in with her toys/blanket/teddy and see his reaction to her. If he's chilled/happy but interested as long as it's supervised I would let them interact - you don't want him to think he's being shut out. If he usually settles down at this time in the evening he might play for a bit and then just want to go to sleep. Just make sure she's in the crate at night.

Sounds like all is going great. Short introductions for the first few days would be wise and separate when things start to get too boisterous just in case the little one gets scared or inadvertently hurt.

Can you have both crates in the same room ?.. If you can then neither will see it as a territory thing and it will help them get used to each other. When they are a little more familiar with each other, let them play more and more but again, separate if it get too boisterous

Yeah both crates are in the living room. He's shown more interest In hers than his own so far lol. Do I allow them in to each other's while the other is not in it or best to keep the door shut while they're not in it? I'm worried if I don't let them then it could become territorial, but also worried if I do let them that by letting them he will either try and take hers over as well as his own, or will get upset with her being in his.

I'd let them sniff/explore each other's crates but just take any toys out beforehand. Are they together at the moment?

I agree with Rachel, by letting them into each other's space it shouldn't then become territorial.

No he's still in the garden tiring himself out before coming in to settle at my feet for the evening..well that's the usual routine but I've got a feeling he won't be settling at my feet tonight lol

Ah okay! Is he outside on his own?!

Yeah. There's no way I'd leave them alone together until she's a lot bigger and I know they're getting on ok.

I'm a bit confused, they won't be alone if you're inside too right? I couldn't leave my dog on her own in the garden in the dark! Sorry if I'm not understanding this right?

I've got high fences and no access to the back garden apart from over the fence as I have an alley from the front to the back garden with a locked door at the beginning of the alley instead of a gate. And the other side of the alley goes straight into the back garden. It's hard to explain. So he can't get out and it would be no easy task for someone to get in

I see, at least it's secure. Does he not get lonely/try to get in? Bug would just sit at the door crying to come in!

No he loves the garden. It's getting him to come back in I have difficulty with. I think he'd stay out there 24/7 if I'd let him lol. He is full of energy (the vet has used 'very hyperactive' to describe him) and runs around out there at full speed. The only time he wants to come in is when he sees I have the lead to take him for his walk or if it's his meal times. I can even leave the back door open and he will just come in briefly to see what everyone is up to then runs back out

No way! I've never met a staffie that doesn't always want to be with their people?! What's he fed on? What's he like on his daily walks also?

I've had him on harringtons puppy food but I'm looking to change that now as he is a year old so should be moving to adult food now? He does pull when walking but ive got him a harness again which is helping. He's more difficult when all the kids come with me for a walk and if one goes ahead or lags behind he tries to pull off in their direction until they're back close. When indoors though he is a lot less active (thankfully) and is happy just lying at my feet ripping up his teddies

Should I be concerned that Casper has just had miley's neck in his mouth, or is this just a part of them establishing who's boss etc? He didn't have hold of her properly, it was a case of his mouth open around her. She didn't make a sound or any attempt to move and he wasn't growling. I've put him for some time out anyway, but thought I'd ask about it before he comes back in to this room.

It sounds completely normal to me. Have a look at the 3rd video on this thread, Chaos and Millie for the first time together, and you'll see at one point he does have his mouth round her neck.

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t60686-chaos-meets-the-puppies

As for time out, yes, from the start you would be wise to have a stop button at play time. I use the word 'enough' and they all know that means stop. Millie's not 100% with it always, but the others just break off and quietly separate. You'll probably need to physically separate them to start off with, so stand between them and block, if necessary using your hands as well, but always use the word 'enough' and they will get to understand what it means.

Thanks Liz! I watched both the videos in that thread and I'm reassured a bit  now. The way chaos is with Marty in the first video is all they've done since I introduced them, only with Casper jumping and following Miley around just to pin her with his paw..he also nudges her with his nose until she is on her back or actually put his head under her and flips her over. He just isn't as calm or as patient as Chaos appears to be! The second video is similar to how he had his mouth around her today, minus the nibbling on her first and he did have her pinned for longer. He also appears to have lost his hearing since Miley arrived ,even the clicker isn't getting his attention when I'm trying to calm him down so I am having to go and pull him away and out of the room. I'm not saying it's all him as she is absolutely fearless and has no manners whatsoever, she went and lay down in his crate earlier and started trying to nibble on his bone and he was just stood watching her with a look of total disbelief that she dared do such a thing. I can see her being top dog if he doesn't put her in her place bless him.