|
Dog Training Made Easy">Introducing new dogs to each other can be tricky, especially if one of them has already been living in the home for some time. Dogs are much more likely to meet and like each other on neutral territory and when neither dog is trying to defend his home or owner. Here are some suggestions to help you make your introductions go more smoothly: ENSURE THE DOGS ARE COMPATIBLE If you are bringing a new dog into your home and you already have a dog then it’s important to go slowly. In essence, the dog you currently have is a family member and you need to consider his feelings when you bring a new dog home. Hopefully you have chosen a new dog that is compatible with your current dog in terms of personality and age. If you have an older dog it can be very aggravating for him if you are bringing in a young puppy, for example, who may tease him and try to make the older dog play. So, assuming that the dogs are somewhat compatible and that they will be friends someday, when you bring in the new dog you should keep him in one part of the house. Use a crate for the new dog so you can restrict his movements at first. Baby gates or pet gates will also help you keep part of the house sectioned off for the new dog. This will keep your current dog from running into him. When the new dog needs to go outside you should walk him at first. Make sure he is outside without your current dog being present. Your current dog will be well aware that there is another dog in the house and the new dog will know that there is already a dog in the house. The dog’s sense of smell is very good so they will know about each other as they don’t have to get close to each other to know the other dog is there. INTRODUCTIONS Once you have things settled you can have a friend help you. Take each dog outside on a leash. You should be holding the leash of your current dog. Have your friend hold the leash of the new dog. You can let the dogs sniff each other but be ready to use the leashes to pull the dogs away from each other if necessary. Your current dog will probably want to go around your yard and urinate on bushes and trees so you should go with him. He is marking his territory for the new dog’s education. If things seem to be going smoothly you can allow the two dogs off leash and let them get to know each other in the yard. However, you should continue to take things slowly and be ready to intervene if there is any kind of disagreement. AFTER THE FIRST MEETING Once the two dogs have had their first meeting you can start letting them out together in the house. However, you should try to avoid situations that might put stress on the new relationship. You should feed the dogs separately, either in crates or in different rooms, so there won’t be any guarding of food or growling. Don’t give them toys or things to chew on that could cause problems. If necessary, buy two of every toy or chewy so each dog has one of his own. Be very fair and consistent about where you allow the dogs to sleep. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR FIRST DOG It’s a good idea to go out of your way to give some extra attention to your current/first dog. Sometimes when people bring a new dog into the house they tend to be excited about the new dog and they can neglect to give attention to their first dog, making him resent the new dog. Make sure you pet your first dog and play with him. Include him in the things you do with the new dog. That way he won’t have as much reason to dislike the new dog. Be sure to give your first dog lots of treats whenever you do something with the new dog, too. Treats go a long way with helping your first dog like the new dog more. He’ll be less jealous if he feels like you still love him just as much. To learn more dog training techniques, visit us DogTrainingDIY.com
Related Articles -
new puppy, bringing home new dog, more than one dog, introducing new dogs,
| 
