If you’re already a pet parent and thinking about adding a new pet member to your family, here’s a very important bit of information you need to ensure a successful introduction. The introduction is critical to the future dynamic between your pets. Get this part wrong, and you may have ongoing problems that you’ll regret.  First, understand that dogs are territorial. The pet already living with you (let’s call him Fido #1) sees that home as his territory. This includes the house, the yards front and back, and even you. Yes, you are his territory. Come waltzing another dog into that without a proper introduction, and Fido #1 is going to challenge. You’ve just gotten off on the wrong foot. So how can I use introduction to eliminate the territory issue? Easy.

Introduce Them On Neutral Ground.

This means neutral ground for both of them. A park, a Petsmart or Lowes, a neighbor’s home, any place that Fido #1 doesn’t view as already his. A place neither dog is familiar with. But that’s only the first critical step.

NEVER Introduce Face To Face.

In a dog’s world, walking right up face-to-face means a challenge, a threat. You’ll need another person to help you here. One of you has Fido #1 on a lead, the other person has Fido #2 on a lead. Show up at different times, in different vehicles, whatever it takes to make the meeting seem random and inconsequential. Start out at opposite sides of the street, or several houses distance from each other, or different aisles in a store, for example.

Ignore The Other Dog Initially.

Begin walking casually toward each other, keeping leads loose–no tension. If you hold your dog’s lead tight, he’ll know right away something’s not right and his response will be to protect you against the threat. Stay calm, stay loose. DON’T comfort him as you’re walking. if you’re petting him and telling him everything’s going to be okay, that’s also telling him there’s something to fear up ahead. Pretty much just ignore the dogs as you walk toward each other.

This next point is VERY important: walk right past each other without slowing down. Say hello to each other, but ignore the dogs–even if they want to sniff or acknowledge each other. Just say hello to the other person, pass by without breaking your gait, and keep going. This is an important part of the introduction, strange as it may seem at first. But you’ve just shown both dogs that neither one of them is a threat. You’ve just created a calm, non-threatening atmosphere for them to meet now.

Now The Quick Hello.

Now that you’ve set the stage for them to meet, turn back and walk again toward each other. Remember to keep those leads loose and your energy relaxed. You want to give your dog the message that this is just a happy little walk in the park. This time, as you’re about to pass each other, stop and let them quickly sniff each other. That’s a positive step, so allow it–briefly. Now say farewell and walk away from each other again.

Let’s Take A Stroll Together.

Now that the dogs have seen and smelled and acknowledged each other in a casual, non-threatening way, you can finally put them side by side. Turn and walk back to each other one final time. This time, begin walking together in the same direction, with the dogs side by side. Dogs walking together, shoulder-to-shoulder, don’t threaten each other. They’ll interpret that as pack movement and begin to acknowledge each other as a member of their own pack.

Introduction Complete ~ Welcome Home!

Walk together like this for a few minutes or however long everyone’s comfortable and enjoying the time. By now the dogs are familiar and relaxed with each other. Now you can go together to the home where the dogs will be living together. Walk them through the door at the same time. Keep them on the leads together and shoulder-to-shoulder for a stroll through the house. This tells Fido #1 that he has a new family member who has unlimited access to the same spaces he does, and it tells Fido #2 that this is his new home and he’s welcomed to it by everyone.

Voila!  A successful introduction, and a healthy, happy, blended family going forward.  

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

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