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One of the most stressful things about dog ownership can be adding a new member to your family.  You may be ready to add another dog but not all dogs like the company of other dogs, and this is the most important thing to contemplate when considering adding a new family member.  If your dog doesn’t like other dogs while walking, at friends houses, or at the dog park chances are good that he will not enjoy the company of a dog in his territory or sharing his space and his family.

The next thing to consider is size compatibility.  I would not encourage the owner of an adult Greyhound to get a Chihuahua!  A Chihuahua to a Greyhound might just resemble a bunny or the prey he has been bred to hunt and kill.  Most often dogs do better with dogs of like size, or extreme caution must be taken to make sure smaller dogs are not injured by larger dogs.

Sex is also an important aspect of adding a new furry child.  Two intact males often grow up to have problems getting along especially when they reach sexual maturity, although neutered males can flourish together.  Female dogs often prefer to live with members of the opposite sex.  Some of the worst dog fights I have ever seen were between 2 adult female dogs.  Intact male dogs often fight till one dog is seriously injured or there is a clear winner, however females often fight to the death.

Age is another vital aspect to consider.  I don’t know how often I have heard the phrase “If you raise them right…”

insinuating that a puppy can be trained to love or tolerate anything, but this simply is not the case.  Puppies come with no guarantees and often, I believe, they are born with inherent temperaments and certain qualities that are not easily changed.  Time and thought should be employed to try to find the best fit puppy possible.  Puppies can also be irritating especially for older dogs!  An 11 or 12 year old dog may not want to be constantly poked and prodded by the exuberance of a pup, an adult dog may be a better fit for older or slower dogs.

I love adult dogs and rescuing dogs, but it is just as important to make sure you find the right fit in an adult dog.  Because I have worked so much with adult shelter dogs as Service Dogs I find it easier to acclimate an adult dog into my pack.  Because an adult dog’s personality is already formed, and probably because I am a professional, I find much simpler to bring an adult dog home.  My main criteria are that the new dog cannot have any issues with my existing dogs.  My dog’s can take a few days to adjust to having a new furry brother or sister, but I will not allow a new dog to come into my house and bully my animals!

Temperament is also extremely important whether it be a puppy or an adult dog.  Puppies are ever changing, the temperament of a puppy may not be the same as it ages and changes.  That is what I like about picking out an adult dog, they have pretty much chosen who they want to be in life.  If I have an extremely dominant female dog at home (and I do) I would look for an easy going fairly submissive male adult or puppy to bring into my house.  If I pick a dog similar in personality to my already established female dog, we are probably going to have dominance problems at some point.  Opposite personalities often get along best, as long as there is respect and no abuse going on i.e. I would never allow my girl to beat on the new dog or create a situation of abuse.  I would simply be looking for a dog that would tolerate and accept my female dog as pack leader.

Once a dog or puppy has been chosen there should be an acclimation period where the established dog/dogs of the family can still feel like home is their territory.

I recommend keeping both new adult dogs and puppies on leashes for at least a few weeks until the pack orientation is ironed out successfully and everyone is tolerant and accepting of each other.  I would never allow 2 new dogs to be together unsupervised in case a problem arose I would want to be there to witness it and make appropriate changes.

As the already established pet, they should feel like their home and yard is still theirs and they are able to come and go without being constantly poked and prodded.  If you allow the new dog or puppy free range, the problems of acclimation can become exasperated because the pet feels like he can never get away or have time to himself or one on one time with his family.

It is important when brining in a new pet to ensure that the old pet still get all the time and attention he is use to, this will help to lessen the shock of a new situation.  Make sure you take your first pet out alone and often to get some one on one time while they are becoming accustomed to having a new brother or sister.  This lessens the impact and his feelings of change.

Change is difficult for everyone, including our pets and it is important to make sure that their schedules and lives remain as normal as possible when integrating a new animal into their lives.

If you follow these steps and really put some thought and effort into getting a new dog, you should be successful with the integration and the building of your new family!

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17 responses to “Introducing a New Dog to Your Pack”

1. Jana Rade writes:
   

   Great point! We were very careful when deciding on getting a buddy for our Jasmine. We definitely wanted a male for her and we wanted one happy-go-lucky, easy going. We went through the puppy evaluation ritual and it seems we picked well. They love each other and get along wonderfully.

   [Reply]

   @ February 24th, 2011 at 21:21
2. Harley writes:
   

   Great blog, very informative, I liked this post about introducing your dog to your pack..good stuff..I hope you will vist my blog..

   [Reply]

   @ February 25th, 2011 at 07:52
3. Gale writes:
   

   If you have socialized your dog properly, and taken classes to make them self confident, with the proper introduction on neutral ground, you shouldn’t have a problem.

   I have a 10 year old brother-sister pair with obedience and agility titles; when I brought home a dog who had been a stud in a puppy mill and confined to a crate for 4 of his 6 years, there was no problem at all, and even some nurturing and my girl showed him how to play, and my dominant male showed no aggression at all. This summer, I imported a puppy from the UK, and left my dogs at friends when I went to the airport to pick her up; when I arrived back at my friend’s house, I let her out onto the grass (she was 4 months old and had all her shots), and she ran to meet all the other dogs, and they investigated her calmly, looking at me as if to say “are you bringing this one home?”

   When we got home, she found her place in the pack, but as an effervescent 10 month old now, she tries to improve her position by being cute, but is quite happy where she is. It was a good addition for the cat because now she can get rid of the toys she was less fond of… the the puppy destroyed them in no time for her.

   My home is a zoo with my obedience and toilet trained cat who thinks she is a dog (when I practice the recalls, she waits for her turn at the end of the hall, and hollers if I don’t call her to a front like I did with the dogs), a puppy who can win even the most surly dog, a rescue with a sense of humour, and 2 old farts that keep them all in order. LOL

   I wouldn’t be alive without my dogs and the cat; they make me smile and laugh no matter what is going on.

   [Reply]

   @ February 26th, 2011 at 00:52
4. Susanne writes:
   

   I have a 10 year old Siberian Husky male dog. Last summer I wentfrom my home in south Spain to Norway to buy a puppy from a musher breeder of Siberians. His dogs all run free under supervision – and can be recalled with no fus-very rare for this breed. My 2 now get on fine. Tor the adult has been extremely patient with Freja the puppy who came as a 9 week old. He is also protective if other dogs look like they are likely to be aggressive. It has been a fantastic success and has improved his life quality immensely.Previously he often looked bored, now he looks happy and content – elbeit sometimes having to ask her to lay off when she becomes too exuberant!

   [Reply]

   @ February 26th, 2011 at 07:43
5. Val Sena writes:
   

   I have 3 rescues whom I didn’t have the luxury of screening. Each has issues and
   They have worked out a peace. My first a Shih Tzu male was a breeder’s stud. He wasn’t performing
   So they decided to put him down. We, of course, had him neutered. He had never been on grass or out
   of a full show cut. It took time and patience to get him comfortable in the world.
   A year later an emergency rescue brought a pommepoo into our home. She had been left in an apt of an elderly couple. 3 days later I broke my arm. While recovering I discovered Lucy was in heat. I had assumed that the initial rescuer had handled that. Our then neutered Sami began humping everything in sight. He had caught on. Once all was again calm Lucy spayed Sami ok with this 7 lb. Girl, my huband’s nephew showed up at our door with their 2 yr old Havaness who as biting. With we took him or they were taking him to the SPCA to be euthanized. Sami looked at me like “Oh, mom, you wouldnt.” We did and this dog was a mess! He’d been tethered on a chain or crated his entire life. Th family had 3 kids who’d play with him by running in and out of his range.

   It’s now two years later. Everyone is calm and confident and I’m trying this program. A true work in progress. The point is Sometimes dogs just come into your life and you have to try to make that lemonade.
   Val
   Cincinnati

   [Reply]

   @ February 26th, 2011 at 07:58
6. Maggie writes:
   

   I have always heard that it is best to take your current dog(s) to a neutral location (an above comment also recommended this) to meet the new puppy. What kind of place should it be (an 8-week old puppy has not finished his shot program). Also, how much time should be spent introducing them. I assume the at-home dogs are wondering as you have probably been preparing a crate and/or area at home for the new arrival.

   I know I made a mistake when I got my last puppy. He came by plane and we did not take our current dog with us to get him. We then brought the puppy home without any introduction away from home. The result was that our current dog (age 5 at the time) would have nothing to do with him. The puppy, of course, wanted to follow him around. It took a very long time, they are good with each other now (age 9 and 4). I am considering another puppy, but want to “do it right.”

   Maggie

   [Reply]

   @ February 26th, 2011 at 08:42
7. Barbara writes:
   

   I would like to say that socializing the dogs really has little to do with how well they get along when your pup grows into a socially mature dog. Dogs are “hard wired” with certain behaviors. In the very near future, the effervesent play that is tolerated by the pack now (because they recognize she is a pup), will soon be dealt with more sternly. In the next two to four months as she steals toys, treats and continues other puppy antics, do not let her get away with it, and do not allow any posturing from your other dogs. Watch for signs of dominance such as T’s,(the dog will show dominance by putting it’s head over the shoulder of the pup and pressing down), mounting (means it is getting more severe), and finally snapping at the pup. All of these behaviours will eventually lead to a fight if not watched closely and stopped now. The most patient “wonderful” dogs can quickly turn into vicious fighting animals you would not recognize. One more word of caution, your female may be the one to turn on the pup, so watch her closely for signs of agression and don’t underestimate the aged dog. It is very common for old dogs in the pack to feel threatened by a younger female.

   [Reply]

   @ February 26th, 2011 at 10:28
8. PJ writes:
   

   Good article. We brought home two female puppies, roughly the same age, but one a Lab and one a Setter mix. For the first year they played together very well. After that, something changed, and the Lab would kill the Setter if allowed. I still work on walking them together on leash, muzzling the Lab around the Setter, but still the Lab will attach the Setter if they are in the same room for a while. For 10 years now, they are both 11, we have kept them in separate rooms. I introduced a rescued, neutered male Lab into the house, and he gets along great with either dog.

   [Reply]

   @ February 26th, 2011 at 18:02
9. Jean writes:
   

   I have a male neutered collie, age 5. I have started to foster critically ill dogs. Have brought only females into the house but find that my collie is very jealous of the new arrival, the extra attention and feedings every 2 hours because these are dogs that have been starved.
   Have started to give my collie a small treat every time I feed the foster and extra attention. Seems to work and he is more comfortable with the new arrival.
   I still have to keep them seperated but at least the new dog can walk past him without the growling.Would like to talk to anyone else that could help me as this is very important work. I do not want to worry my collie but at the same time I have no one else to help me have them meet on neutral ground and I don’t have the time to let them work it out. The foster is usually just days away from death. I adopted a small female cocker spaniel and he took to her right away herding her around the house. She is submissive but still holds her own if he gets annoying. Thank you so much for the great article about introducing new members to the family. The personalities of dogs are something to behold.

   [Reply]

   @ February 26th, 2011 at 18:04
10. Lynda Franklin writes:
    

    I have a maltese/shitzu (sp?) cross and a 1 year old labrador. Need to get then to share the yard BUT small dog too scared of Lab (2nd dog) and Lab always wants to sniff litte dog and then a bit rough in play and little dog barks and snaps! How do I best get them to share the yard without Lab ‘attacking’ the smaller dog? Need help as I am going carzy having to ‘walk smaller dog outside when needs to go to toilet, play etc.

    [Reply]

    @ February 27th, 2011 at 04:42
11. cyndee writes:
    

    It’s refreshing to read something that’s realistic and not sugar coated. Good article.

    [Reply]

    @ February 27th, 2011 at 08:22
12. Eileen M writes:
    

    Very interesting post. I always thought it was me being a bad trainer when my dog accepted male dogs (neutered) but would raise her hackles with female dogs

    [Reply]

    @ February 27th, 2011 at 11:55
13. o0risa0o writes:
    

    wow, I already got a new dog before I read this
    a female and a male

    my female’s a new puppy mutt of the house, Chika.

    and Sam, the adult male Dachshund.

    [Reply]

    @ April 18th, 2011 at 05:53
14. Sharon writes:
    

    We recently acquired a female (not spayed) German Wire show dog as a companion to my Neutered Male. They will roughhouse and play but have recently began to fight. What is the best option for this and what can I do to acclamate them to each other to form a civil union. We have been there to pull them apart and reprimand for bad behavior. Thye are fed seperatly on seperate dies of the house so there is no food agression.

    [Reply]

    @ June 28th, 2011 at 07:40
15. Drin Buell writes:
    

    I am moving in with a man who already has an established pack of 3 male dogs. I have an adult female dog who is aggressive with other dogs. We have to find a way to get them together. Hope something helps.

    [Reply]

    @ July 15th, 2011 at 10:58
16. Jarrod writes:
    

    Hey I have a beagle cross celpie that’s loves to break free of the yard, my partner and I were thinking of getting another dog to try and stop this escape artist, our dog is 2 years old and female, was wanting to get a similar aged labradore male, will this idea work? Also our dog defends us on the lead and can’t be taken off or she will run away, can we introduce them in the large back yard? Also any other ideas you might have would be very helpful. Thanks

    [Reply]

    @ September 11th, 2011 at 16:40
17. Nicole writes:
    

    i’m thinking of adding a male jack russel that my friend cant keep, this article has been very informative on how to introduce them.

    [Reply]

    @ October 15th, 2011 at 10:38

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