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They should seem interested in each other, alert without excessive arousal. Ideally you’ll see tails wagging at half-mast; soft, wriggling body postures; play bows; ears back; squinty eyes; no direct eye contact. These are clear expressions of non-aggressive social invitation.
They may be calmer if they don't feel completely restrained. If your current dog is wary of the new dog or is showing aggression, the process can take a lot longer and will likely involve rotating dogs and behavior modification. Consulting with a professional would be highly recommended to make sure the process is done correctly, if possible. Once you’ve seen that both dogs are enjoying their walk and seem relaxed in each other's presence, you can slowly close the gap while continuing to parallel walk. Avoid letting them come face to face with each other while they’re on their leads as this position has the potential to cause stress and confrontation.
How to Introduce a New Dog to Your Current Dog
If you’re not confident in your judgment about body language, you may choose to enlist the help of a professional at this point in the process. Thanks so much for sharing your story-very interesting. Like you recommend we met on neutral territory first and then bought her indoors following Parker with her leash attached in case she started anything (we knew Parker wouldn’t!). I knew her first owners as we both went to the ame agility club so I knew Izzy was dog-friendly which was essential for where we live near a very popular dog-walking heathland area. However, she was quite bossy with Parker at first, prodding him with her nose if he was just lying relaxing. She was being rehomed as she was bullying the mini Poodle in her previous home who was fearful & scared of her after being attacked by a Weimeraner.
Even if your new pet is already house-trained, it’s important to start working on basic obedience commands (sit, stay, come, down, etc.) as soon as possible. Be sure to provide them with everything they need in this space, including food, water, a litter box , toys, and a bed. Give yourself and your new pet time to adjust and get comfortable with one another. Don't feel like you have to let the dog explore every room immediately.
Pay attention to each dog’s body language.
Set meal times and stick to them as closely as possible. Bringing home a new puppy or kitten is an exciting time for everyone. However, it can also be challenging if you aren’t prepared. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998. Play with the dog in the same way and at the same time as you used to.
Every dog’s timeline is different, but the key is to move at the speed of your more tentative animal and focus on how they’re feeling. By doing this, you will help your dogs create a good association with each other and increase the likelihood that they have a positive and healthy relationship. To ensure your dogs don’t have to compete for food, and reduce the likelihood of conflict during meal time, give them their food in separate spaces. Once everyone seems calm and relaxed, you can let them meet face-to-face.
But, Just Good Friends
If you have one of those canine gems who gets along with everyone, then you have more adoption options. Many breeders and adopters have a fairly inflexible preconceived idea of the appropriate age at which a puppy should be transferred to his forever home. Plan your introductions – time, place, and process – to optimize your potential for success in adding a new dog to your existing pack. Your yard can be have a slew of plants which may look nice but are toxic to your dog. While many are not deadly and not every part of a plant is considered toxic. However, your dog can get still get really sick, so it’s best to avoid toxic plants altogether.
These thoughts aren’t meant to scare you from adding a dog to your family, but are meant for consideration. It’s a big decision to add a new dog and can take time to do it properly. Ideally, you will match your dog’s personality with the new dog. For example, if your dog is bold and tends to get everything he wants with other dogs, you shouldn’t select the same personality or problems will ensue.
If a meeting has been approved by both you and the other owner, you can proceed to let the dogs meet. Some dogs may act differently on a leash than they do when off-leash. This can be due to feeling trapped and that they cannot get away if an altercation occurs.
Place childproof locks on low cabinet doors and place sturdy lids on kitchen trash cans. Remove human medications and small objects off counters and tables to prevent your dog from swallowing and choking on them. Identify all plants and flowers in your home and discard any that are toxic to dogs. In order to prevent canine escapes, make sure your yard is secure. It can be challenging to look beyond the cuteness factor when adopting a new dog. Focus on information available about the dog’s temperament and history.
After every exploratory session and toilet visit, take the new dog back to its crate. This will help him feel safe and he won’t get so overwhelmed. After every toilet visit, take the new dog back to its crate. When you first arrive home, take the new dog straight to the place you want him to use as a toilet. If the two dogs get along and play well together in the park, chances are they will have a good relationship when they are at home together.
Walking through the neighborhood you will find out about your new neighbors, other dogs in the neighborhood, children, etc. It’s important to figure out these things so that you can help your dog get accustomed to the new environment. Try introducing your dog to the new neighborhood gradually visiting one side of the neighborhood at a time. This will allow him to explore, sniff around and be curious, but not at an overwhelming rate as in trying to take in the entirety of the whole neighborhood at once. Remember to always keep your dog on a leash as there might be some aggressive dogs, or children out playing and you’ll want to be prepared for how your pet may react. Introducing your dogs is all about patience, space management and being aware of how all animals are feeling.
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