By: Sharon Dianora Introducing a new puppy, the right way, to your existing dog is extremely important. Do not reprimand the adult dog for growling at the puppy. When bringing a puppy into the family, it is important that you take the right steps to ensure a safe and comfortable introduction. Even if your dog has lived with cats in the past, it’s always best to take things slow when introducing a kitten to a resident dog. Let the animals smell each other underneath the door. Sex of the Puppy. Dogs, on the other hand, are highly social animals, which means a high-energy pup can easily make things even more stressful. First in the yard, then inside the house. Introduce Toys Slowly Introduce toys back into the house slowly after the first introduction rather than bringing out the entire toy chest right away. Remember to always take meetings slow, and if any dog appears to be nervous or anxious about the situation, increasing the distance is best. To make sure interactions stay appropriate and the elder dog is not overwhelmed, supervise all interactions between the dogs. It is almost guaranteed that when you and your canine buddy are out on a walk, you will come into contact with another dog. When you are supervising interactions, reward both dogs for behaving appropriately. How To Introduce Your Two Dogs A Guide for Introducing Dogs to Puppies Best www.dogster.com. Some adult dogs will quickly lose patience with puppy energy. With these three things in mind, below are a few tips for introducing a new dog to your resident pets, and how to ensure the process goes smoothly. Puppies immediately start looking for someone to play with and when they can’t find another puppy, the adult dog is the next best thing. Founded in 1884, the AKC is the recognized and trusted expert in breed, health, and training information for dogs. The first introduction is the most important one. This is how dogs let others know that they are unhappy about something. Use a realistic baby doll that moves and makes noise to prepare your dog for what a real baby will look and sound like. As I explain in my video above, using a scent article is what we did before bringing home our first puppy. This video is sponsored by Petflow! Bring your dog to the outside of the door to the cat’s room and let them sniff each other from underneath the door. Introducing Your Big Dog to a Puppy (or Puppies) Whether you are bringing a new puppy into your home or visiting a friend who has a puppy, you’ll begin the introduction just as I described above. One dog leads and the others fall in rank behind him. Puppies and adult dogs. The best puppy to dog introductions take place in an enclosed neutral area, with plenty of supervision. Either in separate rooms or crates. Both my dogs have a big age difference.. How do you successfully introduce a rescue dog to your current dog? How to introduce your dog to other dogs. Make sure your puppy and senior dogs get along by matching the puppy with the one pack member who is youngest in mind to guide and take this puppy under his wing because he can also prepare it. This helps prevent Rover from lunging at every dog he passes, including those dogs that are uncomfortable with other dogs. If signs of tension arise, separate the dogs immediately and try again later. In addition to knowing how to introduce a puppy to an older dog, you need to understand how to make … When introducing a senior dog to a puppy, keep the puppy on a leash and under control.keep the puppy on a leash and under control. Praise and reward when your dog is polite and calm around the doll. Allow the dogs to meet on neutral territory before bringing the puppy home. Pick up your small dog, maybe with a treat in your hand to at least get her attention a little and hold her down on the big dog's level and let the big dog sniff her. This will substantially increase the chances that your puppy and cat get along. Neutral Ground. You should give the elder dog a break from the puppy several times during the day; this can be carried out by crating either dog. Your older dog considers your house his house. Throwing them together in the back yard and letting them work it out can lead to heartbreak, and occassionally serious injury, if the integration fails. Put your older dog on a leash while another person holds the puppy on a leash. Usually, two unneutered males may have no problems getting along even when both become sexually mature. This article specifically is about introducing a new dog to a resident cat; a separate (though similar) article will talk about introducing a new cat to a family dog. In multi-dog households, there isn't usually a dominant dog or submissive dog. The best thing you can do for the older dogs to coexist peacefully with the puppy is to tire out the little guy. How to introduce your dog to other dogs. Senior canines seem particularly irked by this and will often school a puppy to teach her how to behave. This is the HTML version of one of our former Shelter Sheets, which were designed to be downloaded and printed for handout by Humane Societies, Animal Shelters, Rescue Groups, and others involved in re-homing cats. In fact, one of the biggest things that I see skilled trainers doing that most people miss out on is rewarding the dogs for de-escalating a situation. The whole idea is to introduce the two dogs slowly — some will take longer than others. Scuffles are brief. Introduce a Hyper Dog to a Kitten In 7 Steps 1. Take the dogs for a walk together, keeping 10 feet between them so that they can't greet each other or stare. When they first enter their new home, puppies have a lot of rules to learn, both from you and the existing dog. So you've finally made the decision to get a new puppy. There are hundreds of households already coping with dogs that don't get along. You've done all the research. If you’re introducing a new puppy to your dog or other pets, he’ll need to find his place in the pack and you can help him out. If you notice that the elder dog is becoming agitated by the puppy, it is time to separate or redirect the puppy to another task before things get out of hand. Here's a few games to get you started. In addition to knowing how to introduce a puppy to an older dog, you need to understand how to make their environment more comfortable when they’re together. Ensure both dogs are up-to-date on their vaccinations. Lavish the older dog with affection and assurance as he sniffs and greets the new dog. This may include food bowls, bones, beds and toys. Start by leashing up both dogs (as long as the new puppy can walk on a leash) and going for a walk. Yell, "Hey," in the air, or use an air horn to distract the dogs from the fight. In the case that a dog owner ignores us (and clearly doesn’t know how to introduce dogs), we simply redirected Sora using the “look” command and a treat and turn the other direction. 1. Keep each interaction short and pleasant. Instead, dogs' roles change depending on the context involved. Keep highly valued toys and food picked up. To introduce a cat to a dog, start by touching one animal in a separate room, and then letting the other animal smell your hand. Your local dog trainer or vet will be happy to give you advice. It is possible to introduce a dog to a cat and blend your furry family members into a harmonious whole. For more information, see the booklet “Feeling Outnumbered? This is both to prevent fighting and injuries, and to prevent your new dog from developing behavior like chewing and housesoiling. Be ready to move on to a walk or other joint activity if things go well, and stop the session if either dog becomes stressed or unhappy. It's important that you introduce them slowly. During the Introduction. Keep each interaction short and pleasant. Here's a few games to get you started. If your dog, or the one you want to introduce her to, routinely fights with other dogs, think twice. Yell in the air if a fight erupts between the dogs. If the dog does not like the puppy, do not leave them alone together. A puppy can give an older dog a new lease on life. Eventually, with an introduction that has not been rushed, the puppy will develop the communication skills he needs to succeed, and your dogs will be great friends. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php. How to Introduce New People to Your Dog Even if you have a big family, meeting people outside your household is important for your new dog. Though you and your family want your new puppy to be friends with your other family pets, you have to realize that your resident pets will not be wearing party hats when you walk through the door with a new companion in your arms. How to Manage and Enjoy Your Multi-Dog Household” by Karen London, Ph.D. and Patricia McConnell, Ph.D. For caring, compassionate advice and resources to address all your animal concerns. Growling can let the puppy know that it is time to take a step back from the situation and that is a good lesson for your puppy to learn. If the puppy is under six months old, both the dog and the puppy may need frequent breaks from each other. Your older dog will respond to your laid-back attitude as well. Walk past children at a safe distance, such as walking past a playground or school. The idea is to acclimate them to each other’s presence without causing tension. Once you reach neutral ground, you can have your friend hold the leash for your new puppy while you have control over your current dog. When you're introducing two dogs to each other, first impressions matter. Approximately one week before bringing the new puppy home, arrange for the older dog to meet the puppy at a park or anywhere that is not his home territory. How to Successfully Introduce a Dog to a Cat. Your older dog will respond to your laid-back attitude as well. Forget Breed. If one or both dogs show any signs of stress or agitation, proceed more slowly with the introduction. Introducing a puppy to an older dog doesn’t have to be stressful. Regardless if you are introducing a puppy or adult to your current dog, ideally it … A scuffle is a canine trash-talk argument. Follow this step-by-step guide when letting your puppy and older dog interact for the first time. You might not want to introduce treats into your dog-and-puppy playtime, but you can See, Mark, And Reward when the dogs share sleeping spaces, swap toys, or disengage from tense situations. I think it's important she be exposed to big dogs, and I know these big dogs are safe. 4. A common and effective method that pro trainers often use when introducing a puppy into their household is classical conditioning of the adult dogs: whenever the puppy is brought into proximity, fabulous food rains down on the adult dog. If your little guy is aggressive and you need to introduce a big dog into his world, socialize your little guy as much as you can away from the big dog.. Start small by introducing your dog to dogs that are the same size.. Keep them on leashes and meet in neutral territory, such as dog … This is the way older dogs communicate that the puppy has crossed the line, and it is acceptable as long as the adult dog does not make inappropriate contact and injure the puppy. What to expect I've had the unique experience of welcoming 15 puppies into our house over the last 12 years. Here are five tips on how to introduce dogs to new people in a comfortable, non-threatening way. Once a dog or puppy has been chosen there should be an acclimation period where the established dog/dogs of the family can still feel like home is their territory. Prevention is key, so plan ahead and remove sources of conflict such as food or toys. It’s important for dogs to learn to play appropriately with other dogs of all sizes. Let them get to know each other slowly and carefully, Keep the dogs separate while you are away. Don’t let your dog meet every dog they see on a walk; switch it up and ask for periods of focus on you when passing another dog. Keep highly valued toys and food picked up. You only have one chance to make a first impression. This can be due to feeling trapped and that they cannot get away if an altercation occurs. How to introduce a big dog to a small puppy? If you have any concerns about the process of how to introduce a puppy to an older dog, ask for help ahead of time. I took my shepherd to the pet store to see how he was with small dogs and it did not go well. The biggest problem reported is owners that wish their animals got along better. While dogs can settle minor disputes with each other (such as growling the other off of a toy or their own food bowl), they shouldn't be limiting each other’s access to you, your family or common areas of the home. I recommend keeping both new adult dogs and puppies on leashes for at least a few weeks until the pack orientation is ironed out successfully and everyone is tolerant and accepting of each other. Remember that the introduction will set the tone for their relationship, so it’s important to set everyone up for success. https://www.akc.org/subscription/thank-you. It's important that you introduce them slowly. A puppy can give an older dog a new lease on life. Young puppies in particular are annoying to other animals — and […] Reward polite behavior and manage the environment to prevent conflicts from developing. These dogs will not magically fall for a new puppy roommate. This article specifically is about introducing a new dog to a resident cat; a separate (though similar) article will talk about introducing a new cat to a family dog. It allows both dogs to be able to get used to each other's smell before they actually meet in person. Introducing a Puppy to an Aggressive Dog If you’re introducing a puppy to an aggressive dog there are some things you can do to help them along. Never force them to interact. When you are not able to directly supervise the puppy, he should be placed behind a gate, in an exercise pen or in a crate. Then, let them smell each other under a door or through a gate or fence to see how the animals react to being close to each other. The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that 44% of US pet owners have multiple pet home and most include both cats and dogs. If either dog tries to keep fights going or has caused significant injury, think three times. Before the in-house introduction, take the resident dog out to the yard, then bring your new dog inside. These behaviors indicate the dog is nervous about the meeting, and it is best to separate the dogs and continue on your walk before the situation has a chance to escalate. Some dogs unfortunately will be too dangerous for your cat, and one of the most important points of this article is that you need to recognize when this is the case. First in the yard, then inside the house. Keep this meeting on neutral territory like a neighbor’s yard, a training center, or a tennis court. He snapped at the puppy which is very unusual for him. If the dogs remain comfortable, allow them to walk side by side. At the same time that I toss the dummy or the pigeon, I’ll clap. How the dogs interact in their first few encounters can set the tone for their entire relationship, so follow these steps to set their relationship up for success. Since Gus was 10 months when I introduced him to them, and already near 15 pounds, I don't really know how to introduce an almost 3 pound puppy to an 80 pound dog LOL I really want Grace to meet them. This could be outside of your home in a park. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-introduce-dogs Once both animals have become accustomed to the others’ scents, let them interact from opposite sides of a door. Let them meet outdoors, on neutral territory. Playing with your dog can be fun for the pair of you. How To Introduce Your Puppy To Your Other Dog(s) - Professional Dog Training Tips- Hi, I'm Carol McCann, and welcome Introducing a New Puppy To Your Existing Dog. Intervene immediately if a fight erupts between the dogs. If your current dog is from a breed with a strong prey-drive, introducing a new puppy who is a small, fast-moving breed is probably not the best idea. A dog does not need toys or special attention to feel important; you simply need to maintain the routine, providing daily walks and consistent leadership. 4. A pup or adolescent will most likely accept either. It is important to understand that puppies are still developing their communication skills. Take the dogs on a walk together while keeping them several feet apart. Of course, there are some dogs that just don’t play nicely with others. All rights reserved. 2) Introduce Slowly. Dogs have different personalities, just like people do. With a bit of planning and preparation, you can introduce your new puppy to any other dogs that already live with you, safely and calmly. A Labrador can be a big, powerful, and very playful dog, and a miniature or toy breed will be no match for it if play gets too rambunctious. In order to prevent territorial aggression, find a neutral area to introduce the older dog to the new puppy. Finally, let the dogs interact under close supervision. Have your dog on a leash, wearing a muzzle. Always ask the other owner if an interaction with their dog is okay. Keep in mind that every dog is different, so you may need to try a few methods. I’ve noticed within the past few years a trend in attaching yellow ribbons to a dog’s leash. Knowing in advance what to expect can help families, and the existing dogs, make the process of introducing a new puppy to the household as easy as possible. Your older dog considers your house his house. All rights reserved. Some dogs may act differently on a leash than they do when off-leash. Meet at a place you don’t regularly walk your current dog, like a park, tennis court, or friend’s yard. Wait two minutes while they sniff each other, then call them away. A scent article is any cloth itemof your choosing that smells like one of the pets for whom you're arranging the meeting. The best puppy to dog introductions take place in an enclosed neutral area, with plenty of supervision. If you have a puppy or a friendly dog, start introducing her to a variety of dogs of different breeds, sizes, ages and energy levels. With well-trained greetings, your dog will happily anticipate the fun that they can have with other four-legged friends. Every dog will react differently to a new addition entering his territory. Once they’re done, the dogs make up and relax. And in turn, they may not be so good for a puppy. Luckily, there are simple steps you can take to make things easier for everyone. Top Tip: Before introducing your puppy to an older dog, make sure your existing dog's vaccinations are fully up to date, so that everyone stays happy and healthy. Introduce Your Pets Slowly . Once the dogs are distracted, place them in their crates, or place the puppy behind the baby gate. Dog-to-dog interactions are an important part of dog ownership. Once he’s keyed in on an activity that the dog likes to do, he’ll use a training partner to help implement sharp, unexpected noises. But bringing home a pup may also be a source of stress and major irritation for an existing dog. It’s best to have their first greeting on neutral ground. "No dog is allowed to bother another dog when they want to be left alone" (Keep the puppy from bothering your older dogs unless they initiate the play or until the puppy learns to be more polite about it, and reward the older dogs for being tolerant when the puppy is calmly trying to say hi or generally near one of them and they are being tolerant and nice). Prior to bringing your new dog or puppy home, place anything your resident dog might guard in one area. 4. Take the dogs for a walk together, keeping 10 feet between them so that they can't greet each other or stare. AKC actively advocates for responsible dog ownership and is dedicated to advancing dog sports. Make sure your puppy is getting enough exercise, both mental and physical, so all his attention is not focused on the older dog. Slowly socialize your dog to dogs of all sizes. In our situation, we used a small blanket, and … Adult dogs usually react to this exuberant greeting by appearing a bit standoffish or even by swatting the puppy with a paw, growling, and/or air snapping. An older resident dog will be less threatened by a puppy, than it will by another adult dog. Most puppies lack social skills and will pounce on older dogs when they want to play. This helps to reduce the risk of your older dog feeling like they need to defend their territory. Your dog may or may not appreciate this! 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