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Bringing
Home Your New Dog
What you do in the
first few weeks your dog is home is important in how well your
current pets adjust to their new friend, and can prevent future
squabbles and scuffles between your pets.
Fido
meet Spot
If you already own a
dog and are considering acquiring another, one of the best
things you can do prior to adoption is to bring your current dog
with you to meet his potential new buddy.
Introductions are always completed best on neutral territory,
where neither dog feels threatened or feels the need to defend
his "turf". Ideally, find a fenced yard or other
large area where the dogs can be slowly introduced while on
leash. If all goes well, then they can be released to play
freely off-lead. By using this method of introductions, a
lot of snarling, growling and hair-raising is easily avoided.
Provided both dogs seem to approve of one another, they can both
go home as pals as opposed to being introduced on Resident
Rover's property where he may feel the need to be defensive and
protective.
If the above
scenario is not possible, then you'll need to recruit a
volunteer. When your new dog arrives home, arrange to have
someone walk him down the street. You, of course, will
need to take Rover on a nice little walk where he can be
introduced to his new friend. While not all dogs require
such effort for introductions, it is definitely the easiest way
to encourage a smooth transition for both dogs.
Establishing
Pack Order
It's perfectly
normal for your own dog to feel a little overwhelmed with his
new friend. At first you may see some posturing behavior,
or even a couple of snarls as the dogs decide who is going to be
boss. It's important to let the dogs work it out amongst
themselves, and only intervene if the scuffle turns into a true
fight. (Use a hose, water, or a chair to break it up - to
prevent getting bitten, never grab the dogs by their
collars.) Most dogs have worked through any conflicts
within a couple of weeks; however, sometimes it may take a bit
longer before the two dogs have decided who is going to be Top
Dog. If you have more than one dog at home, you may notice
that one dog may be boss to another, but subservient to the
second dog.
Preventing
Fights - food, toys and other tempting items
The most common
sources of fights among dogs are food, treats and favorite
toys. While free-feeding your dog is never a good idea, it
is especially critical to never leave a bowl of food out when
you have two dogs together that have not established their pack hierarchy.
Feed twice a day, in separate rooms with doors closed to prevent
arguments.
Dogs will also fight
over special treats. Pigs ears, rawhides, chew hooves,
bones, and other treats should be put away for a few weeks until
the dogs have decided who is boss and you are sure there will be
no fights over these highly sought-after snacks. Limit
treats to those which can be fed directly from your hand.
Give them directly to the dog, and do not place them on the
floor or in any other place where the dogs may
argue.
Does your own dog
have special toy? It might be a good idea to tuck this
item away for awhile until the dogs have established their
routine. Dogs will often defend their favorite toys, which
can be another source of conflict.
Fido
meet Kitty
Now that the canine
intros are completed, what about introducing your new dog to the
feline family member? The method that you use for this
will largely depend on your dog's previous exposure to cats.
If your new dog has
lived with cats before or has been "cat tested," you
will still want to keep him on a leash while allowing him to
greet your cat for the first time. This will give your cat
a sense of security, and will also allow him to exit the room if
necessary without being chased. Keep in mind that certain
dogs, especially large breeds, have a very high prey drive.
While they may not intend harm to your cat, they will often be
intrigued and will attempt a game of chase. Do your best
to prevent this from occurring, as this behavior is reinforced
each time your cat flees and your dog sees. If your new
dog is overly interested in your cat, keep the dog leashed when
your cat is around. Praise him lavishly and provide treats
for ignoring the cat. Likewise, when he engages in chase
or barks at the cat, make your displeasure known with a loud
"NO KITTY!" A very good deterrent when used
consistently is a spray bottle filled with 8 parts water and 2
parts vinegar. Spray the dog in the face when giving the
"NO KITTY!" or "LEAVE IT" command. It
make take a few days or a few weeks before your dog realizes
that the cat is not a walking woobie. Be consistent and
you'll eventually see results.
One simple and
economical tool to assist in promoting a positive relationship
between your cat and your new dog is the use of a baby gate.
Use the gate to separate rooms of the house, allowing the dog to
visualize the cat but not giving him access to the kitty.
This will also allow your cat to join you in the remainder of
the house, but if the dog begins to chase, your cat will have a
means of escape into a dog-free room. Of course, if your
dog is aggressive towards your cat (as opposed to simply
interested in play), seek the advise of a local trainer or
behaviorist and DO NOT allow your cat and dog to remain together
unsupervised.
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