Adopting a new pup is obviously pretty exciting for pet parents; however, if you have a dog at home, the biggest question is how to introduce the puppy to the dog. To introduce a puppy to a dog, start with separate introductions in a neutral space, gradually allowing supervised interactions. Use positive reinforcement, offer treats, and ensure both animals feel comfortable, promoting a smooth and harmonious integration.
Obviously, the new pup won’t understand the dog world your older dog has set at your home. But don’t worry, with some preparation, your dominant dog and young pup should get along just fine, and in this article, we will look at a few dos and don’t on how to introduce a puppy to an older dog.
How To Introduce A Puppy To A Dominant Dog
You need to follow certain rules if you want to sail how to safely introduce two dogs into a house. Thus before you introduce the new dog, try the following things:
- If your elder dog is territorial, put away his favorite toy or chew things to avoid any unpleasant behavior
- Create enough space at your home for the two dogs to get away from one another
- To prevent any possessive, aggressive behavior, get two separate goods and water bowls
- Stay up-to-date on vaccinations for the dogs
Introduction Of Fur Babies:
Many people often wonder how to introduce a puppy to a territorial dog. This is not a difficult task once you understand your dog’s psychology. Your elder dog thinks of your home as his/hers.
Thus, it’s safe to introduce them in a neutral environment to avoid any aggression. Ensure your older dog is on a leash while another person holds or has the new pup on another leash. However, allow them to sniff each other and get along, don’t restrict them to your side.
But make sure the first introduction is done quickly. As a rule of thumb, stay calm; your dog can sense your tension and is likely to be tenser than you. Your elder dog will use your emotional response as a guideline throughout the entire meeting, so staying calm is crucial.
Getting In The House:
How to introduce a new dog to an aggressive dog is a question already lurking in the minds of those having a strong dominant dog. Thus, to keep things from escalating, monitoring the dogs for a week or two after getting home is essential to ensure they are getting along comfortably.
Keep the older dog’s routine intact and simultaneously begin with a new routine for the new pup. Keep an eye out for the dogs’ body language as they contain clues about how they are reacting to each other. This is also important as the pup may not understand the elder dog’s body language well.
Here are the following tell-tale signs of discomfort that you might notice in the older dog:
- Growling
- Hunched back
- Showing teeth
- Long stares
- Raised fun on neck and back
How to introduce a new dog to your home: what to avoid doing:
- Don’t let the older dog bully the pup
- Don’t let the two fight
- Do not have the puppy in your arms during the initial introduction
- Do not force the two dogs to get along
- Don’t put them in the same crate.
New Dog Not Getting Along Old Dog:
Though it’s not desirable, this situation can happen, and one of the primary reasons for this is jealousy. Your new or old dog might feel they are not getting enough attention. Often the older dog feels left out as pet owners get too overwhelmed by the cuteness and novelty of the new arrival, leaving the older feeling jealous.
These Are The Common Sources Of Jealousy Among Dogs:
- Less Care
Indeed, the puppy will need more attention, but that’s no excuse for ignoring your older dog. On the contrary, your older dog will require more walks, food attention, and stimulation.
- Breed
The breed does influence the dog’s character. Some breeds don’t handle social situations well, but they can be trained to.
- Lack Of Socialization
The socialization period is crucial for dogs as it determines how the dog responds to situations later in life. Not only humans but your dog should also be ready to socialize with other dogs; otherwise, they may not know how to handle the arrival of a new pup.
- Pampering
Surely you want to pamper your dogs but don’t overdo it to set unrealistic expectations. Over-pampering leads to separation anxiety and thus must be avoided.
- Trauma
If your older dog has faced trauma from other dogs earlier in life, the new pup’s arrival may trigger old aggression.
Tips To Help Dogs Get Along:
Let the older dog greet the new pup on its own. Don’t grab and force them to meet or snout. This can cause the puppy to feel vulnerable and can lead to aggression. As mentioned earlier, keep the food bowls separated. Besides, separate their eating areas. Reward cuddle to both of them equally so that neither fell left out.
If you still cannot get the dogs to get along, seek professional help and summon an ethologist or dog trainer to help you. You can also refer to Cesar Millan Introducing a new puppy to your dog videos to get an idea of how to go about introducing your new dog to the offer one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.How Long Does It Take For A Dog To Get Used To A New Puppy?
Ans: It can take one month for the old dog to accept the new one and settle in the house. So, if you are looking to have another dog, it’s essential to commit to the process and not panic. However, once the adjustment period is over, the two dogs will enjoy each other’s company.
Q2. How Do I Get My Older Dog To Accept A New Puppy?
Ans: As mentioned in the article, there are certain dos and don’t while introducing your new dog to the old one. It’s crucial to make both dogs feel loved and cared for and not territorial. Thus have separate eating bowls and feeding areas. It’s not advisable to push the dogs to like each other. Ideally, give them their own time to come by and, in the meanwhile, try everything possible to keep the environment neutral.
Conclusion:
Bringing your new dog home is, of course, exciting and fun. However, make sure your older dog is part of the fun, too, and does not feel threatened by the new entry. In many ways, dogs are like kids, and thus with the proper guidance and socialization, you are sure to have one big happy dog family.
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