Introducing a New Dog to Your Other Dogs
Like many dog lovers, you may be thinking “the more the merrier!” and you’re excited to bring another furry friend into your family. To make sure your new pup gets the proper welcome to their new furever family, here are a few tips from our team of pet experts!
Prep for the Big Day
Choose a day and time when you are able to put your full focus on the introduction. Any current dogs, and your new companion, will all be looking to you for assurance, so you’ll want to be there to provide it! If possible, see if you can first bring home a blanket or other item with your new dog’s scent on it, so that your current dog can start to recognize it before they meet in-”person”.
Neutral Turf
Bringing a new dog into your home right away can sometimes trigger territorial instincts, making for a bumpy intro. Instead, bring both dogs on leash to a neutral, outdoor, fenced location. Walking each near, but not close to, the other is a nice slow way to start. Be sure to stay relaxed yourself, and let the dogs lead the process without too much interference.
Next, dropping the leashes will let them say their hellos freely, while enabling you to safely separate them if need be. Be sure to praise both dogs for good behavior with words (and treats!) so they understand this is a positive situation and they are meeting a new friend.
According to Invisible Fence® Brand Regional Pet Trainer, Ashley Donegan, "A dog's sense of smell is extraordinary and they are very perceptive to their human guardian’s feelings. They can sense our emotions through the pheromones we release and read the micro and macro cues we give. This is why staying calm and not placing tension on the leash is so important during a meet and greet."
Just Like Kids
Over time, continue to supervise playtime as both dogs define their boundaries with one another. Dogs, like kids, can have a ton of fun together but can also sometimes get on each others’ nerves. Rough, loud play time is perfectly fine, but keep a keen eye on your dogs’ body language to be sure all is well. Loose postures, wagging tails, and play bowing (when your dog lowers their face and front legs to the ground) is a good sign, while one dog continuously showing distance behaviors and aggressive biting can mean an intervention is in order. Calm deflection away from the interaction is the best way to lower the tension.
“Dog’s need to learn boundaries when it comes to playing but they will teach each other this! Stepping in too soon or too often can hinder this process and prevent the dogs from learning each other’s 'play with me' vs 'knock it off' body language cues. It can sound intense when an altercation occurs but so long as there are no injuries, it's just a discussion they are having,” Ashley added.
Given proper guidance, your dogs will adapt to each other, and to the new household order. When you’re ready to onboard your new dog to your Invisible Fence System, reach out to our Customer Care team. We’ll help you "Add a Pet" to your system and schedule for training sessions to familiarize them with their new boundaries.
If you feel like you need help with the transition, however, our expert trainers have worked with thousands of dogs and families, and they are always available for a Manners consult. Together, we can work to make sure all family members—furry and otherwise—can enjoy a happy home.
