Helping Older Dog Adjust to Puppy

(I have done searches on this, but wanted newer opinions and anyone's 2
cents on the specifics of this situation)

Background:
My wife's 6.5 lbs Lhasa Alpso lived happily with my 20lb Beagle/Terrior
Mix when we got married - both dogs were the same age. It took about 3
days to teach the beagle to be gentle and lay still for the Lhasa to
sniff and check him out. Once done, they became best buds.
Unfortunately, 3 years later, the beagle was put down for reasons I
will go into another time. It's been about 3 months since the loss of
my beagle and the Lhasa adjusted fine to his absence with no
depression, etc. The Lhasa loves kids and other dogs and is very open
to new people and things. The Lhasa is roughly 6yrs old (middle aged).

Currently:
Because of the Lhasa's openess to change, we brough home a 11wk old
Cavalier King Charels Spaniel. The puppy desperately wants to play with
the Lhasa by bounding up to it, sniffing, even light nipping to get a
reaction. The Lhasa for all intesnive purposes looks severly depressed
- avoids the puppy, growls at it when the puppy gets too rambunxious,
and generally gets the heck out of the way. At night when the puppy is
in the crate, and we are alone in bed with the Lhasa - the Lhasa
becomes very playful and affectionate because the puppy is not around.
We share timer with both dogs w/o showing favoritism and make sure the
Lhasa is also showered with attention.

Questions:
1) Is the bounding, pouncing, sniffing, and even light nipping the
puppy trying to play or a sign of dominace?

shore...

It's a sign of puppiness.

2) Why is the Lhasa not turning around and for all intensive purposes
putting the puppy in his place (she did that to my LARGER beagle all
the time).

shore...

A couple of things: 1) puppies come with puppy licenses, and
older dogs tend to put up with stuff from puppies that they
won't in older dogs; 2) it takes a few weeks for dogs in new

Suja...

Somebody forgot to pass that memo to Pan. And for some reason, puppies all
seem to want to launch straight into her face, only to be met with an
impressive display of teeth.

Rocky...

Friday is exceptional with goofy puppies. Teeth are shown
momentarily but never used.

living situations (and bringing a new dog into a home
changes the living situation for the old dog) to suss things
out and start relaxing.

3) Is this a phase? Will the dogs every become friends and play like my
previous dog and I just need to be patient. Or is this a lost cause?

shore...

You're modelling the dogs' relationship on your older dog's
previous relationship, but the new dog is different from the
dog you lost. Their relationship will almost certainly be
different and may or may not include a lot of play, but it
would be pretty surprising if they didn't become buddies.
Sometimes things don't work out between two dogs but that's
not often the case. Relax, enjoy your dogs, don't force
anything, and the odds are very, very much in your favor.

Helping Older Dog Adjust to Puppy - Advice