Introducing your dog to your pets

Getting a new dog or puppy will be very exciting for you, but your new dog or puppy, or the pets you already have, might be wary of their new housemate.

Here we talk you through some of the measures you can take to set yourself up for success when introducing your new dog or puppy to your pets.

Why it’s important to have a positive first introduction

A positive first meeting will go a long way in making the relationship between your dog and other pets a success. If your dog associates your other pet with positive emotions the first time they meet, this bodes well for future encounters, and they’ll be more relaxed when they see each other next time.

For a puppy, this is likely one of their first meetings with another animal besides their littermates. Whilst adult dogs might be well socialised already, a puppy is at the beginning of their socialisation journey. So, if this first meeting goes well, it’ll give your puppy more confidence when meeting other animals and having new experiences in the future.

Understanding your dog or puppy

Dogs and puppies let us know how they’re feeling in many ways, so pay attention to your dog’s body language and the sounds they make. During the introduction, hopefully, they’ll display signs of being happy, which typically include a waggy tail, a play bow, or a high-pitched bark. However, monitor for signs of distress or discomfort, such as yawning or turning their body away. High-level distress signs include growling, or their ears lying flat against their head.

It's also important to remember that puppies have less bladder control than older dogs, so they can have an accident when they’re excited or scared. 

Additionally, think about when your pet has met other animals before – what worked and what didn’t work? Use this knowledge to try and improve on past experiences or replicate them if they went well.

Managing for success

Planning ahead will help set you up for success. Before you introduce your new dog or puppy to your pet, try scent swapping, where you give your new dog something that smells like your pet and vice versa. You can use items such as blankets or other bedding for this.

Immediately before the introduction, try and keep all your pets calm – avoid using an excited or loud voice, and keep calm yourself as some pets can sense when their owners are anxious.

It’s important to manage your expectations. Everyone wants their pets to get along well, but every pet is different - some dogs might need longer to get used to a new companion than others.

Where to introduce them

Creating a positive experience

You want your pets to form joyful associations with each other and there are several things you can do to help, such as using positive reinforcement. Some tips to help ensure that the first meeting is a positive experience include:

• Reward behaviour you want to encourage, either with affection or a food reward, to help your pets associate each other with happy emotions.
• Ensure sure you give both pets equal attention and reward them at the same time to avoid one getting jealous.
• If you’re introducing two dogs and the first meeting goes well when they’re wearing leads, try without leads the second time to encourage them to play and have fun together.
• If the first few minutes of the introduction go well, let them have a break from one another, and then gradually increase the time they spend together.
• If one animal is more confident than the other, you can distract them while the other acclimates by giving them a chew toy, or enrichment toy.

Bringing them home

Bringing your new dog or puppy home is a big day. Even though you may have already completed the first introduction at this point, we still recommend that you let the animals say hello to each other outside the house if possible. Somewhere like a garden or a green space nearby is ideal for this.

When you welcome a new dog or puppy into your home, it’s vital that they have their own space to retreat to. If your new dog chooses to go to their safe space, don’t disturb them, and ensure your other pets or members of the household don’t either.

Continue to monitor both animals closely in the early weeks and keep them both calm and settled.

What to do if first introductions don’t go well

It’s a good idea to have a backup plan if their first meeting doesn’t go as you’d hoped. Closely supervise and monitor both animals and be quick to intervene if either shows signs of being uncomfortable.

If you’re attempting the initial introduction in your home, make sure both animals have a safe space to retreat to. This is especially important if you’re introducing your new dog or puppy to a cat, as cats often need to observe a newcomer from a distance to feel safe.

If one or both animals seem uncomfortable, or if one is more confident than the other, separate them. Don’t scold or punish either animal. Give them both time and space to rest and recover from the initial meet and greet, and make sure you give both animals lots of reassurance. You could even play some enrichment games with them individually as a distraction. You can use this experience to plan how to set the next meeting up for greater success – such as trying the use of baby gates, shorter interaction time, or introducing the animals from a distance to begin with.

Once you’re sure both your dog and other pet are well rested, try again in a neutral setting. For example, if you tried the first introduction at home, try the second somewhere outside if it’s appropriate.

Don’t be disheartened if it takes time and a few attempts for your pet to accept your new dog, or vice versa – every pet is different!

Who to contact for advice

If in time the relationship between your pets is not improving, or worsening, or you notice behaviours of concern, you should contact a trainer or behaviourist for support. Your vet will be able to make recommendations should you need them.