How to Prepare Your Dog for a New Dog's Arrival

Are you planning to add a new furry friend to your household? Well, one of the concerns would be how your current dog will behave. Though dogs are social, they feel threatened when a new dog intrudes on their territory.

So, you might be afraid that your dog will attack the newcomer. Or worried that your dog would be afraid of the newcomer, or even worse, get injured. How best to prepare your dog for a new dog's arrival? Let's get started.

Some gradual preparation before the first meeting can help avoid an uncomfortable situation for both dogs. Consider preparing separated areas for the dogs. It may take time for the two dogs to get used to each other. And you do not want them to be aggressive to one another or force them to like each other. As you prepare for the new dog's arrival, use a baby gate to separate the areas where each dog will be staying.

It's finally time for the dogs to meet each other. Do you know of a park around you with entertaining sites and distracting sounds? That's where this meeting should happen. Not at your home or backyard where your current dog has marked their territory. The ground should be neutral and comfortable for both dogs. 

To effectively monitor how each dog behaves, you might need an extra hand from a friend or a family member, then follow these steps:

• Separately, take the dogs to the meeting location.
• Bring the dogs together and let them greet one another. Keep the leashes loose so that the dogs do not feel restrained.
• Allow the dogs to bond through smelling each other, circling, and playing. Do not distract them. However, if a fight breaks out, it's time for you to intervene. Instead of pulling the dogs by the leash, use their favourite treat to distract them and to turn them away from each other. 
• If the meeting goes well, go for a short walk. And plan for the next meeting at home.

Time to Meet the New Furry Friend at Home

After the initial introduction, the dogs can now meet at home. But, you want to make the transition swiftly to distract your residential dog from the changes. Let the dogs meet at a neutral location and walk them home together. If you have a backyard, let the dogs hang out and play for a while.

If you notice the resident dog is friendly, you can now bring the dogs inside the house. Let the new dog tour the house on a leash. If the dogs are getting along, you can unleash the new dog too. If the resident dog is territorial, keep the dogs separate until they get used to each other.

• Keep a regular schedule for feeding and playtime. Feed the dogs separately, so they don't feel the urge to compete for food and give each lot of attention and love.
• Supervise the dogs' interaction for the first few weeks until you are sure they are comfortable around each other. 
• Use treats to reinforce positive behaviour.
• Watch out for anything that causes the dogs to conflict and address it. Over time, the dogs will learn to coexist peacefully.

It's exciting to have an additional pet in your home and give your current pet a friend. If you follow the above guidelines, the transition will be smooth.