Adopting Second Dog Wisely Introduction

Bringing a second dog home requires a lot of thought. It means a finish alter in your “normal” family routine. It matters not whether the new dog is a puppy or an adult.

There are numerous things to consider before you fetch the new pet home.

It is not just a matter of bringing the new dog home and you all will live happily ever after (though that may be a remote possibility.)

You need to take time to think this new undertaking through and mull over these questions:

Read these questions a few times and answer them truthfully. Being truthful will support eliminate you making a mistake.

Some dogs actually don’t want a “companion,” they are as happy as a clam being the “only dog.”

The real question here is “is it you that wants a new dog?”

Once you have made up your mind and genuinely feel that another dog will be an added gain to your household. There are a few more things to consider such as: puppy, young adult or an older dog. That will depend on your resident dog.

Puppies are in all probability more comfortable to introduce to your current dog, as a puppy doesn’t appear as an intruder, only as a pest.

If you determine on a puppy, please keep this in mind. Puppies do not realize they are supposed to behave in a sure way until they are in regards to 4 months old.

Until they are old sufficient to recognise all this “dog stuff,” it will be up to you to protect the puppy from the older dog and protect the older dog from the puppy.

The puppy will drive the older dog crazy at times. Puppies want to play; older dogs will play for a little while then want to stop.

It is up to you to give your older pet, free time away from “fluff and stuff.”

Do not under any circumstances leave the puppy and older dog alone without supervision.

Always put the puppy in it is crate or put your resident dog in a safe room if you are leaving the house or can not supervise.

The older dog could unintentionally hurt the puppy, if the puppy pesters the older dog too much.

Adding a young adult dog or an older dog to your household requires a lot more tact along with goodnatured tolerance and planning. You are going to need help with this one.

Step number one; the dogs will have to meet on neutral ground. To do this you will need aid of a friend or a relative (not a fellow member of your household.)

The dogs need to meet in a place your dog has never been, that will be the neutral territory. It may be a park, a neighbor’s yard, or if all else fails a parking lot.

Both dogs need to be on a leash and introduced casually. Allow them to do all the “doggy things,” such as smelling each other, their stance may be rigid, but for the introductory meeting that is okay. However, if you listen growling or see lip curling, calmly move them apart.

Remain calm and do not be nervous, talk to the dogs in a “happy voice.”

After a few minutes undertake to introduce them again, but do not let them get too close together.

If the growling and lip curling happens again it is a good bet that these two will not ever be friends.

Whatever you do, do not try to strength a friendship. You will only be looking for a outstanding deal of disturb when you get them home.

Dogs will fight and if they do not like each other, it may be disastrous for you and the dogs.

In looking for a new dog (not a puppy) try to find a dog whose personality matches that of your dog. If your dog is outgoing and friendly, find one that is evenly so. If your dog is quiet and gentle, do not fetch home a dog that is very active and playful, the match more than likely will not work.

Female dogs that have been the only dog in the house seem to have a harder time adjusting to a new “friend.”

Dogs that have been socialized and get along well with other dogs have an requiring little effort time relating to a new dog in the household.

One of the original rules in raising a puppy is “socialize, socialize and socialize” a heap of more. If you have followed that rule, adding a new dog will have to be easier.

Once the introductions have been made and it is time to fetch the two dogs home a good suggestion is “do not fetch them home together” in the same car. Let the person who helped you with the introduction fetch the new dog home.

It is a suggested procedure that when you have both dogs at home you keep their leashes on them. It will be posing no difficulty for you to keep control if you need to by having a leash to grab on to.

If the new dog is close in age to your resident dog there is bound to be a bit of aggression going on.

You now have a “pack,” it will be necessary for the two dogs to determine which one is going to be second in charge (you are the real leader) and this decision may take some haggling.

Acceptable aggressive conduct ought to last for a few seconds (10 –20 seconds) and may consist of numerous growling, lip curling, snarling, snapping and perhaps pinning one of the dogs down by the neck.

Unacceptable aggressive conduct would be biting to draw blood or any of the above behavings that last more than a few seconds.

One of the dogs may exhibit submissive conduct and this is to be expected also. Barking like a puppy, rolling over on it is back, tail amongst it is legs, running away from the other dog are all adequate for the purpose submissive behaviors.

It may take the dogs a week or two to settle on who is the leader and while that is going on DO NOT let them alone together unsupervised.

Put the dogs in discerned areas or in their crates, do not let them be together until you are sure they have settled their rating and will get along.

The most difficult thing for you will be following their decision particularly if your introductory dog is no longer the “number one.”

The crucial thing here is that you abide by their decision no matter how hard it will be for you.

The number one dog gets the firstborn treats, is introductory out the door, is primary to be fed and so on.

Speaking of feeding, give each dog their own bowls and their own eating spot, do not let one steal feed from the other.

Expect your introductory dog to go through a great deal of stress and in all likelihood some misbehavior patterns as this new addition will be upsetting to it and the dog will need to adjust.

It is up to you to suppose these difficulties and act accordingly. Remember your dog did not ask for a new friend. It was your idea. As the old saying goes “you made your bed now lie in it.”

It may take a month or more for a procedure to establish and peace to rein supreme once again in your household. If you keep the dogs detached when you are not home to supervise and you make the time they spend together “fun” they will soon become friends, perhaps not “best friends,” but close sufficient to take pleasure in being together.

Do not forget that you are the LEADER, the boss supreme, and you run the show, and both dogs need to follow your orders first.

Do not beat, hit or other than as supposed or expected use strength to make a point, be patient, stern if necessary and most of all CONSISTENT in what you are asking of the dogs.

One last point: exercise is the mystery to keeping your dogs too tired to argue with each other. Exercise relieves their stress (and perchance yours. too) and tired dogs behave better.

Good luck and do not forget to have FUN.

Adopting Second Dog Wisely Introduction Pic

Adopting Second Dog Wisely Introduction Pic

Adopting Second Dog Wisely Introduction Picture