INTRODUCING A NEW DOG TO YOUR RESIDENT CANINE
When you have decided to adopt a second dog, you might be imagining that your dogs will become best friends: they will play together during the day and snuggle on the dog bed as the night draws in.
But how can you know that they will be best friends?
Even if the dogs met in the rescue or shelter and got along famously, introducing them to or in a different environment may change things drastically.
Do not expect your dog to love every dog just like you might. And don’t be disappointed if your current dog and the newcomer don’t hit it off straight away. It’s okay for them to just coexist without being besties and snuggle buddies😊
Why should we always take it slow when introducing dogs to each other?
A newly adopted dog is under a tremendous amount of stress. The resident dog is wondering who the heck this new dog is, and why they are in their territory.
The combination of these feelings can end in a dogfight. Not because either dog is aggressive, but because it takes time to unwind and to help both dogs understand the situation.
Bringing home another dog
First introductions:
Use crates and baby gates;
When you first bring the new dog home, take them for a long walk alone;
Never introduce your new dog inside your house;
Introduce them in your fenced backyard or garden either leashed or off leash, whichever you are comfortable with. Remember, some dogs may have leash-reactivity!
Never leave the two dogs alone together. If you cannot closely supervise, then put them in their crates or separate rooms.
Remember, your newly adopted dog is experiencing a lot of new things and can get easily stressed out. If your resident dog won’t give them space, then consider a break. Remember the Rule of Three
Resource Guarding
If your dog has never had another dog in the house, you may not know if they have resource guarding issues.
Resource guarding can be guarding people, food, toys, dog bed, or any object that the dog finds valuable. You need to be super-aware of the signs, and if you’ve never witnessed it before, it may catch you off guard at first.
Watch for a showing of teeth, growling, stiff erect tail, stiff body stance, ears back, whale eyes, or raised hackles.
This is yet another reason to learn your dog’s body language:
If you have a resource guarding dog, then you will need to be super vigilant with around feeding time, bones, toys, dog beds, or whatever they like to guard. Even if you don’t think either dog is going to resource guard, having separate feeding areas might still be a sound idea.
Checklist:
Learn and watch dogs’ body language
Feed dogs in separate areas
Put away valued toys and bones
Continue taking it slow for a few days
Take a lot of long walks together as a pack. Try to keep both dogs tired and engaged/entertained by giving them more than enough exercise. A bored dog equals trouble.
Continue being super aware for several weeks or even months, depending on the dogs’ personality and temperament.
Watch for any signs of stress in both dogs. If either of them gets overwhelmed, reduce the time they have together and slow down even more.