Dogs are notably man’s best friend; however, many canines have never learned how to properly greet other members of their own species. Dogs will all greet each other in an assortment of individual ways, which is why it’s important to consider your dog’s general attitude before introducing another furry member to your household. First impressions matter and fortunately there are several methods to ensure the likelihood of harmonious coexistence in a budding canine relationship.

Start in Neutral Territory

If you’re on your way home with a new dog, refrain from bringing your new furry family member inside right away. Up until this point, your current resident dog has claimed their indoor territory and wouldn’t take kindly to an invading scent. Instead, clip a leash on both of your dogs and take them for an outdoor walk in an area where they have plenty of space. During this initial introducing, it’s important to let the dogs determine the pace at which they get comfortable.

Begin with walking both dogs at a substantial distance apart and in the same direction. Curiosity should peak each canine’s interest at some point, so work on giving out treats when the dogs look at each other. We don’t want the two dogs to pay much attention to one another, rather the intention is to get the dogs in closer proximity as they pay attention to you and your treats. 

Finally, once the two dogs are right beside each other, allow them to circle and sniff their new friend. Learn to read their body language during this introduction period. If either of the dogs stands still, slowly lead them away and allow time for them to focus on other outdoor scents. After several meetings, your dogs should appear relaxed in the presence of the other. At this point, allow them off-leash together in a fenced area where you can monitor their playtime.

Introducing a New Dog to Your Home

For this next part, it’s important to help your new dog view your home as their home too. Enlist a family member to continue taking your current resident dog on a walk while you allow your new dog an opportunity to check out their new living space alone. Encourage your new dog to sniff around at their own pace and view the territory as safe.

Once your two dogs are under the same roof together, try to keep your household calm as they acclimate to one another and the environment. Always be watching for signs of brewing tension between your dogs such as growling, staring, body blocking, and other stiff body language. If you notice any of these signs, intervene by give your dogs solo breaks away from each other for roughly 30 minutes before allowing them to engage again.

If your dogs have successfully bonded, then congratulations! Maintain this relationship by keeping both dogs on a regular daily schedule, including the following rules: 

• It’s important to set aside one-on-one time with each dog to discourage competition for your affection.
• Separate your dogs during mealtime and monitor that either doesn’t intrude on the other’s eating space.
• Introduce toys slowly. Once the dogs are used to the scents of their toys, create a time in their schedule for playtime breaks.
• Give each dog their own individual bed.
• Initially, separate the dogs when you’re away from home.

Keep in mind that introducing dogs can take months before they’re truly comfortable with each other. Practice patience during this blooming friendship and always acknowledge positive interactions.

Dr. Bill’s Canine Behavior Support

Adult dogs should be well behaved, but unfortunately that is not always the case. Dogs can seem to bark at anything and can be a nuisance at dinnertime by constantly begging. Some dogs forget where the bathroom is and others want to confront every animal they meet on their walk. These behavior problems may discourage your family from wanting to introduce a new dog to your household. Fortunately, behavior problems can be avoided or reversed by specialized training with the help of a calming agent like Dr. Bill’s Canine Behavior Support.