Introducing Your New Puppy To Your Other Dogs–6 Key Steps
by Evan Davis, Admin
Filed under Dog Talk Tips
Another step in new puppy ownership that may be easy to overlook is the proper introduction of your current and established dog to the new puppy. Although it is possible that your new pet may be immediately accepted, don’t take this for granted. Plan on spending some time to make sure they become properly acquainted.
Introducing a puppy to the existing pets in a household is accomplished positively if the established, dominant dog is acknowledged before the puppy is acknowledged. Here’s how.
1. Before bringing your puppy home, feed your established pet a partial meal.
2. When you bring the puppy home, bring your pet outside to greet the puppy. If you have a particularly dominant pet, arrange this meeting a block or so from your home so as avoid territorial conflicts.
3. Walk the pet with the puppy (however well you can get the puppy to walk!) and let the existing pet sniff the puppy all he wants. Stay outside for forty-five minutes to an hour.
4. Take the pet and puppy into the house and just walk around the house for ten to fifteen minutes, letting everyone get adjusted to a new body in the house.
5. Feed the established pet another partial meal and let puppy watch.
6. Feed the established pet again, and this time put a bowl down for puppy. If the other pet comes to the puppy’s bowl, tell him “No.” Whenever you feed your animals, feed the older ones first, but make them respect the puppy’s bowl.
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