How to Introduce a New Dog to Other Dogs, Kids & People
Are you nervous about bringing your new pet home? Don’t be! Dig into our guide on how to introduce a dog into a home for the first time! Learn how to introduce dogs of any age safely and successfully with our step-by-step guide and tips.
How to Prepare to Introduce a New Dog to Your Dog
Wondering how to introduce a new dog or puppy to your dog? Bringing a new furry friend home is exciting, but it can be overwhelming for your new dog. In learning how to introduce a puppy or dog to your current dog, or an older dog, it’s important to remember that while your new pup is new to you, everything is new to them. The best way to introduce dogs of any age is to plan ahead, be patient and gentle with them and make introductions slowly and carefully. Here are some helpful tips on how to introduce any dogs to each other to make this transition as smooth as possible for both your new dog or puppy and your current dog.
Introducing Dogs to Each Other
Adopting a second dog of any age has many benefits. Sometimes, a second dog or puppy may help calm your current dog, give them a companion while you are at work or away from home, and even offer you more protection and make you feel safer. While many dogs enjoy companionship with other dogs, how to introduce dogs to each other at any age can be difficult. However, don’t forget that a second dog or puppy means a second set of responsibilities for proper care and nutrition.
Managing Two Dogs at Home
The following tips could help make the adjustment smoother for you and your dogs. Here are the first steps in how to introduce a new puppy or dog to your dog.
- Have an extra set of hands.
- Have separate spaces for the dogs for the first week.
- Reward good behavior.
Even if your dog is well trained, it’s hard to predict how they’ll react to sharing their space with a new dog. It’s a good idea to have a friend bring their dog over so you can test your pup’s reaction to another dog in the house before adopting another.
Whether considering how to introduce a puppy or a dog to a dominant behavior dog or not, have the two first meet in a neutral area, such as a local park and have another person that your pup trusts help you with the initial meeting. You should handle your own dog and have the other person handle the new one. Both pets should be on a leash and allowed to sniff each other out, but you should be able to separate them using the leashes if needed. If you know your dog has a history of aggression, you should first consider whether a second dog or puppy is the best idea. And in the case of an unavoidable situation, you should consider consulting a vetted behaviorist.
If the initial meeting of introducing the new dog or puppy to the old dog goes well, take them both for a walk together and reinforce good behavior with treats, where they walk parallel to each other. Take them home and let them spend time together outdoors first, if possible, to prevent marking behavior indoors when they come inside.
It is important to have time for the pets to be together as well as time for them to be separated. Both need to have some one-on-one time with you, and by separating them for a short period each day, you can bond well with them separately.
Take one outside to play and then switch and take the other dog outside. It is also important to feed the pets separately. Continue to give each dog one-on-one time for the whole first week.
As your old dog and new guy adjust to each other, be sure to reward positive behavior with treats or extra attention and positive words. Encouraging the positive behaviors that you want your new pair to exhibit can help the pups get along and bond with each other faster.
Long-Term Patience and Observation & When to Seek Professional Help
Be patient if your pets are not getting along after a few days (or even a week). If you show signs of being uneasy or worried, they may sense that and be on edge themselves. Try to stay calm and patient and work to keep them calm and patient, too.
Try not to change the current dog’s daily routine, but have the new dog or puppy adjust to your current dog’s routine. Remember that canines thrive on a consistent structure where they know what is expected of them. A dog trainer may be able to help better work through how to introduce a new dog or puppy to your home. You might have a case of introducing a new dog or puppy to a jealous dog.
In addition to being patient with both pets, be aware of what, if anything, is causing them to fight or not get along. Look for body signals to determine when they are most upset or irritated and what might trigger them.
For example, if food causes problems, consider putting one dog outside while you feed the other or putting them in separate rooms to eat. Try to eliminate situations that get either pet too excited or irritated until they start showing signs of bonding and getting along with each other.
Adopting another dog or puppy can seem overwhelming at first. Still, if you follow these tips for how to introduce a new dog to another dog, you will likely help each of your pups bond and become lifelong buddies.
How to Introduce Dogs to Your Children & Other People
It’s important to emphasize that children should never be left alone with a dog until a positive, trusting relationship has been clearly established, and only after consistent, adult-supervised interactions. Even the most well-behaved dogs can react unpredictably to a child’s behavior, especially in new or stressful situations. Adult supervision ensures both the child’s and the dog’s safety, allowing any signs of discomfort or misunderstandings to be addressed immediately. Building a healthy bond between a child and a dog takes time, patience, and guidance, and should always begin with closely monitored encounters.
Before introducing your dog or puppy to a baby or other children, explain to them that dogs and puppies are sensitive, living animals with feelings just like people may feel nervous when meeting someone new, so they need to be careful not to scare them. Explain that they should be very gentle when petting them and never pull on their tail or ears, grab or hug them or make loud noises around them.
Ultimately, brief, supervised introductions between your children and your new dog or puppy help foster a safe and positive start to their relationship. Have them practice giving slow, gentle pets without being too rough or loud. Children can seem large and a little scary to a small dog or puppy. Having your children sit on the floor for the first few play sessions can help small dogs and puppies feel more secure. Involve your children in your dog’s training and allow them to give your dog treats, which will help your dog make positive associations with your children.
Adopting a second pup has many benefits. For example, when you're away, having more than one dog can help to fulfill their natural desire to be part of a pack or family. With the right preparation and attention, adding a second dog can enhance the well-being of both pets and strengthen the sense of harmony in your home.
For more expert tips on adopting dogs of any age, explore our other dog and puppy adoption articles.