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Here’s how to do it correctly to build life-long friendships between your beloved pets. When introducing a new puppy to an older dog, it is always best to introduce it on neutral grounds. This is a key element that helps prevent the onset of surprise (and shock!) that comes with just planting a new puppy inside the home without no warning.
Once inside, keep your dog on the leash and lead her from room to room. Spend a few minutes in each room before moving on to the next, and make sure each time you go first into the next room. If you adopt a dog that already suffers from separation anxiety, all hope is not lost.
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That way when the puppy comes back in, it won't be as big of a surprise. If you need to leave your dogs alone before you are completely sure that there will not be any issues, secure your older dog in a crate. Using this type of communication, your existing dog is teaching a puppy when enough is enough, and how to read the silent cues that dogs give each other.
One may eat all of the other’s food, especially if the other is a slow eater. And if food tolerances are in the mix, simultaneously feeding both dogs may be impossible. Other issues to look out for include territorial behavior around mealtime .
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Sleep is essential to healthy growth, contributing to the necessary development of his brain, immune system, central nervous system, and more. To avoid any territorial behavior or resource guarding, senior dogs and new puppies should first be introduced on neutral ground, rather than in your home or yard. Once they’ve both acclimated to living together in your home, take measures to avoid your senior dog feeling boxed out. For example, your senior dog should feel like their belongings – toys, chews, etc. – still belong to them and not the new puppy. The best-case scenario of introducing a new puppy to an older dog is one in which both the puppy and the adult dog feel at ease. The first impression matters a lot, and introducing the animals in a neutral territory will go a long way in ensuring both pups are comfortable and don’t feel threatened.
If your neighbor is open to it, you might consider finding time to speak to a qualified trainer together, suggests Scherff. Indoor pee pads can be a useful tool in some cases, she says, but they'll complicate the training process. If you're contemplating getting a puppy, think seriously about what it'll be like to handle a 2 a.m. Pee-pee break when you're on the 28th floor with a slow elevator.
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Keep an eye on body language and be mindful if you give them high-value, long-lasting toys like Kongs or chews. Like kids, they'll always want what the other one has, and this can lead to arguments. When you've found a good match, make your home a safe and happy place for everyone. Install baby gates so you can separate the dogs in separate rooms when they need a break from each other. If he gives warning signs like yawning, lip-licking, showing his teeth or growling, remove him from the situation.
Vet visits are essential so that your puppy gets used to the vet and the vet can monitor its growth. Puppies, like babies, also need vaccines for most common diseases, as the maternal antibodies will fade after they are weaned. Some diseases can be fatal for your pup; therefore, vaccinations are vital.
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"Just existing together, but sitting on opposite sides of the room, isn’t a good relationship," Phifer says. If the puppy pesters too much, expect corrections -- in the form of little snarls and snaps -- from the older dog. Brief, controlled lessons that do not cause the puppy any injury are fine.
Therefore, err on the side of caution and avoid putting your dogs in a position where they might feel territorial and fight over their personal items. These products work best if introduced days prior to the new puppy's arrival so that they have time to become effective. If your older dog has a history of guarding food, toys, sleeping areas, or certain locations from you or other people in your family, this is beyond the scope of this article. Consult with a dog behavior professional using humane, force-free behavior modification methods. You can use a baby gate, x-pen, or a room to allow safe separation and allow your resident dog time to relax and unwind from the overstimulation. You can also keep the puppy tethered to something stable and safe so that your older dog is free to decide when to enter the pup's zone to interact and then be free to leave.
If they seem to be getting along, take them where they can get to know each other in a supervised, off-leash area. When looking for a second dog, there are many things you can take into consideration, including temperament, size, sex and age. Some people might say female dogs shouldn't be paired together or dogs should always have the same energy levels, but some dogs just hit it off. Mary Jo DiLonardo has worked in print, online, and broadcast journalism for 25 years and covers nature, health, science, and animals.
It goes without saying that with very old dogs or dogs who are blind or deaf or both, it may be better waiting to get a new puppy. When we first introduce a new puppy to an older dog, we want to really minimize the chances of putting the older dog into situations that cause tension to build up. Why should punishing a dog for growling be avoided at all costs? Firstly because we want our dogs to manifest their emotions. As Yamei Ross states, "Punishing a dog for growling is like taking the batteries out of your smoke detector. You don't want to hear the noise, but the danger is still there." There are several tricks of the trade to help introductions go a little smoother.
But have you thought about how to introduce your puppy to an existing dog in your home to make sure they get along? Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that both of your dogs like each other if the introductions are made proper. In some cases, two dogs of the same sex may get along fine, but some experts feel it is best to choose a new pup of the opposite sex.
It’s important to ease into the nose-sniffing range and not allow for any challenge staring between the two dogs. Read their body language and check-in to make sure the meeting is going smoothly. Matthews says it's a concern when a resident dog is already showing guarding behaviors and is protecting highly valuable items like food, toys and people. Bringing another dog into the home means an extra competitor, causing constant stress and anxiety.
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This is especially true if the rescue has been abused or went through trauma due to another dog . Follow the steps above, pick up food and favorite toys, and monitor them closely. With a bit of care, your two adult dogs will be fast friends in no time at all. When it’s mealtime, feed the resident dog just like usual.
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