How to introduce a new dog to your existing dog

 

To introduce a new dog into the home can be, somewhat, challenging for most pet owners. If you have always been a one-pet family, one major challenge you may face is how the dog at home will react if you bring in a new dog to share his space and the attention he’s getting from you. Even if dogs are pack animals, you will still notice that the dog at home will not be receptive to the new dog at the first instance. This is because dogs always do not want any other dogs invading or threatening their territories. But in spite of the challenges this may pose initially, with adequate preparations and if you pay attention to the following steps, you will, no doubt, succeed in building friendship between your two dogs so that your home will become the peaceful heaven you want to make of it.

Introduce them on a neutral ground

Ensure that you introduce the new dog to your dog on a neutral ground. Some ideal places to make such formal introductions are a park, a pet shop or any other public place that is safe.  By doing so, the new dog feels less threatened and it reduces the risk of fighting between them. When you notice that the two dogs are beginning to bond together, take them home.

Socialize your dog

If you have any plan to bring in a new dog into your home, it is advisable that you first of all socialize your dog with other dogs. This process of socialization is better done when the dog is still a puppy. By socializing your dog, he becomes less aggressive towards other dogs and will become readily disposed towards sharing his territory with any new dog you may be bringing home.

Take steps to bond the dogs

When at home, put the two dogs in one room or crate. Reward them if there is any positive interaction between them. But if one of the dogs begins to show any aggressive behavior towards the other, separate them for few minutes and bring them together one more time. It is important that you put an eye on the dogs when they’re together at this initially period to look out for any aggressive behavior. Also ensure to put them apart many times in a day to remove the pressure off your old dog.

Do not reprimand the older dog for growling

Do not reprimand the older dog whenever you notice it is growling at the new dog.  Growling is a way the older dog can tell the new pet that it is unhappy about whatever it is doing. Growling is a good lesson to your new dog as he begins to learn his limits and that it is time to work away.

Exercise your new dog

Give your new dog adequate exercise so that it doesn’t focus all his attention on the older dog. If the new dog, whether young or old, focuses all his attention on the older dog, it wares the older dog out and he may begin to show aggression towards the new dog. Taking the new dog out for a walk and engaging him in other dog activities will enable him develop the communication skills that he needs to leave in harmony with other dogs.

Avoid anything that will bring conflict

To avoid conflict between the two dogs, make sure that there is enough dog accessories to go round (such as bowls and toys) because the old dog may not be ready to share his things with the new one. However, the best you can do to solve this problem is to put away all those things and get new ones if you can afford to. In this case, no one assumes ownership of the new accessories.