6 Easy Steps for Introducing a New Puppy to Your Old Friend

by Adam Gonzalez

It is exciting to bring home your new puppy. It is a time filled with love, laughter, and joy. However, this may not be true for the canine already a member of your family. Your dog may not want another “doggy friend” on his territory. For him, adding a puppy to the household can be a stressful, anxious, and frustrating time. Here are six easy guidelines that will help you to introduce your new puppy to your resident dog.

Introduce the dogs in a neutral location

Since dogs are territorial, it is important to introduce your new puppy to your resident dog in a neutral location. This will reduce the likelihood that your resident dog will view the puppy as an “intruder” on to its territory. Intruders are generally unwelcome and are the target for aggression. A neutral location could be a park or a friend/neighbor’s property on which neither dog has spent much time.

Make it a positive experience

Each dog should be on a leash and handled by a separate person during the introduction. Bring the dogs together for a short time so they can sniff and greet each other. Praise both dogs at this time with lots of verbal affirmation and give them tasty treats. This way they will learn to associate the other dog with a happy and positive experience. Take the dogs for a walk together after their short introduction. Allow them to explore the new environment together. It’s OK if they sniff and greet each other again. Always praise them when they interact positively.

Observe and understand body language

Watch both dogs carefully for signs that the introduction is going well. A positive sign would be a play bow. This is when the dog crouches down with its front end and raises its hind end in the air. A play bow is an invitation to play and shows that the dog is happy. Negative signs that the dogs are not getting along may include prolonged staring, teeth-baring, deep growls, or hair standing up on the dog’s back. If either dog shows any of these negative signs, the dogs should be separated immediately. Both should be given a simple command like “sit”, and then be rewarded with a treat for obeying the command.

Don’t go too fast

Introducing a new puppy to a resident dog may take some time. Do not rush the introduction process. Forcing the dogs to spend a lot of time together all at once may make them anxious and even aggressive towards one another. It may take more than a day before they are comfortable spending time together. If this is the case, both dogs should be separated when they are unsupervised. With consistently positive interactions over time, the dogs should eventually accept each other as family members.

One dog at a time please

If you have more than one resident dog, it is import to introduce them to the puppy one at a time. This will reduce the chance that the resident dogs will gang up on the puppy.

Some things to remember when your new puppy is at home

Treat the dominant dog appropriately

Eventually, the dogs will establish a pecking order. This means one dog will be the “leader” and the other will be the “follower.” Typically males are more dominant over females, and larger dogs are dominant over smaller dogs. Young adult dogs are usually dominant over puppies and aging dogs. Treat the dog that establishes dominance as the leader. This means it should get attention first, have preference over toys, favorite sleeping areas, and any other valuable doggy resources.

Give them a break

Puppies are very energetic and engage in a considerable amount of assertive play that involves chasing, biting, and attacking. This can be very taxing on the resident dog, especially if it is older and less active. It is important to provide an area in the home where the dogs can go to be apart. This can be separate rooms, separate crates, or separate areas outdoors.

References

Hetts, Suzanne. Pet Behavior Protocols: what to say, what to do, when to refer. AAHA Press. 1999. p 56-58.

Hetts, Suzanne. “Introducing your new dog to your resident dog” http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/intro.htm

Landsberg, Gary, et al. Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat. Butterworth & Heinemann. 1997. p 192.