Introducing a new dog to your family? First of all, congratulations on bringing home a new family member.
Image by kim_hester from Pixabay
But there’s one thing many dog parents tend to overlook. And that’s helping their current dog to get used to their new housemate.
If you’ve ever been overprotective of your dog, your pet might feel offended after watching you play with the new dog.
And even if your dog has a friendly nature, there’s a good chance that the other dog you just brought home is aggressive, reclusive, and worst of all, mistrustful.
Thus, it is really important that you do something to help both of your dogs get along with each other. And this article can help you do that the right way. Read on to learn more.
- See how your current dog reacts to other animal’s company
Before you bring the new dog home, you would need to make sure that your dog is comfortable around other pets. Make sure that you notice how he reacts to the presence of a new animal.
And what’s better than taking your furry friend to a dog park to help him get used to other pets. It would be best to keep your dog on a short leash if things go the wrong way.
You can also use a dog park as a neutral location to introduce your dog to his new housemate. This way, he won’t see the new pup as an intruder and get used to his presence.
If you see any signs of aggression amongst them, it would be best to postpone your plan of bringing home a new dog.
- Share the dog food
Once you see that both the dogs are comfortable in each other’s company, it is now time to take the next step. For starters, try to feed both pets at the same time but in different rooms.
You should know that each dog has different habits and it will take them some time to learn how to share their space with other dogs. Obviously, you wouldn’t want them fighting for their food.
After you are done with nurturing their habits, you can try feeding both the dogs in the same room at the same time but in different bowls. This way, they won’t get jealous of each other, and you’ll be able to build relationships amongst them.
You can also encourage their good behavior by offering delicious treats such as jerky for dogs or yak chews. By doing this, you are sending a message that both of your dogs will be rewarded for being good with each other.
- Do not force them to share either territory
The thing about dogs is that they get attached not only to the owner but also to the place of residence. And bringing another pooch into the house might make him feel insecure about his space.
He might even show some signs of aggression and would want to define his territory.
So, it would be best to have another resting place for your new dog so that your current one doesn’t feel threatened.
In the end,
You need to make sure that you don’t rush with the procedure. Remember, both of your pets need to get used to each other’s scent. So, use the tips mentioned above and help your two dogs get along with each other.
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