Blended Families

April 26, 2008

What's the best way to introduce a dog into a household that already has dogs? We'll talk with behaviorists and trainers about minimizing the turf wars, helping the dogs teach each other their best habits and keeping everyone safe until the new pecking order is established. Call in and tell us how your new dog adapted to the multi-dog household.

Main Points

• Choose a neutral location for the first meeting

• Bring indoor dogs outside

• Go for a walk together

• Distract and focus dogs with positive reinforcement/reward all good behavior

• Communicate what's not allowed

• Observe canine dominance and pecking order

• Be aware of body postures and redirect before a fight breaks out. Play bow is good. Staring, stiff-legged movement, showing teeth, tail high with rigid "wag" is bad.

• Introduce them one at a time

• Separate at mealtime

• Don't leave a puppy unattended with an older dog

• Confine and keep dogs amused for short periods when alone in the house (at first)

• Burn off energy with lots of exercise

• Get help early if you need it

Articles:

Introducing Pets to a New Dog - HSUS

Introducing Your Dog to Other Animals - Veterinary Partner.com

Introducing Your New Dog to Your Resident Dog - Dumb Friends Animal League

Bringing a New Dog into the Mix

How to Introduce Your New Dog to Your House and Other Dogs

Introducing a Dog into a Home with Other Dogs

Introducing a Second Dog Into Your Home

Bringing Two Older Dogs into a House with Dogs

Bringing a New Dog into a Home with Existing Pets

Before You Bring a Second Dog Into Your Home: A Checklist from the Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley

How Should I Introduce the New Dog to my Home?

Also on the Show:

Disaster preparedness checklist for dog owners

Top breeds by city

Human medicates are the most commonly ingested canine poisons

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