If you’re thinking of adding
another dog to your family, it’s very important to weigh your own needs
against the needs of your existing dog. Are
you getting a younger dog in anticipation of your older dog dying?
Do you feel that your older dog would enjoy the company of another dog
– maybe giving him a new lease of life?
Whatever your reasons, just remember that bringing a new dog into your home is a huge change for your existing dog and unless you go about it in the right way, it can create a lot of stress.
If the addition to your home is a puppy, you’ll want to do your introductions indoors because pup won’t have had all his vaccinations.
With the puppy in your lap and your
older dog on his lead, held by someone else, let the older dog sniff, lick and
generally check the puppy out. A
couple of minutes is more than enough time for this initial introduction.
Once this has been done, remove the puppy from the room and lavish your
older dog with lots of attention and praise.
On the second or third meeting, if all seems well, allow the puppy onto the floor and monitor the situation carefully for a few minutes. Again, remove the puppy from the room and lavish lots of attention and praise on your older dog.
Repeat this exercise at least twice daily until you are comfortable that the two of them will get along.
It is not a good idea to leave your puppy alone with your older dog – there should always be someone there to supervise.
There are a few ways that you can
help make the process of introducing your older dog to a new dog less stressful.
Choose a neutral location for introductions. By choosing neutral ground (like a park or unfamiliar garden), you older dog is less likely to see the new dog as invading his territory.
With both dogs on leads (you’ll need another person to help here), let them greet each other and have a good sniff, but only for a short time.
Then, give each dog a simple command, like SIT, and treat them both when they do this.
If all goes well, take them both for a walk and allow them to sniff and investigate each other from time to time.
Use positive reinforcement with them. When you talk to each of the dogs, use a happy, friendly tone of voice. Never talk in a way that can be construed as being threatening. Reward good behaviour with treats and praise.
Keep a watchful eye on their body language. The “play-bow” is one sign that will tell you that things are going well between the two dogs. This invitation to play is shown by one dog crouching down with his front legs on the ground and his backside up in the air.
Body languages that indicate an aggressive response can include hair standing up on the back, bared teeth, deep growls or a prolonged stare.
If you notice these kinds of responses, be calm and stop the interaction. Use a positive tone of voice and distract each dog by getting them interested in something else.
If your outdoor introduction has been successful with no fearful or aggressive responses, then it’s time to take your dogs home. If you drove to your neutral location, you’ll need to decide if it’s going to be all right for the two dogs to travel together. In an ideal situation, you would have separate crates for them, but this isn’t always possible. This is something to decide before you go for your new dog.
One important thing to remember –
whether it is a new puppy or a new adult dog you are taking home – is always
to give your older, existing dog somewhere to go for private time.
He will certainly appreciate the time to chill out.
And also make sure that he gets lots of individual attention from you so that he knows he still hold a special place in your life and hasn’t been replaced by this newcomer.
Just remember to take things slowly and not try and force the dogs to get on. Each will need individual attention and play time with you, but they should also have joint playtimes, but make sure that you supervise them at all times during first few weeks.