Introducing your new dog to your resident dog
Introducing your new dog to your resident dog
By Beth MacLeod, CPDT-KA, Baypath Behavior & Training Coordinator
- Although your dogs have met at the shelter, it is important to again introduce them in a way that is non-threatening to them both.
- Both dogs should be on leashes with each adult holding one dog– if you have more than one dog already at home, do this exercise one dog at a time.
- Allow the dogs to approach each other on their own terms – do not force a confrontation.
- Have a firm but loose grip on the leash (flexi-leashes are NOT recommended.)
- Watch the dogs’ body language – are their bodies loose and relaxed, tails down and wagging, ears relaxed? If they look tense or stressed try taking them for a walk, allowing them time to warm up to each other.
- If you are in a fenced area and the dogs appear comfortable with one another, drop the leashes but leave them attached to the collars.
- When you go back in to the house, leave their leashes on. The tighter confines of the house may result in a bit of bickering.
- When feeding your dogs together for the first time you may want to feed them in separate rooms or with a reasonable distance between them. Supervise all initial feeding sessions!
- If the dogs begin to fight, do not reach in to pull them apart! Have a distraction ready (a hose, bucket of water, or an umbrellas you can open) so that you can separate them without harm to them or yourself.