Adding a puppy to your new house is exciting! But sometimes, it can cause issues with older dogs. Usually, these concerns start with sharing or domination. The older dog might try to protect its territory. A new puppy can also transmit diseases, which is something you want to prevent. Therefore, it is vital to maintain the mental and physical health of both.
Reasons That an Adult Dog Might Avoid New Puppy
While introducing a new dog to your house, it is essential to understand why the older dog is reluctant to accept it. Having this understanding will help you with things like proper introduction. Here are some of them.
- Having a new puppy means sharing resources, attention, and food. It can be an issue if your dog has always remained a single pet.
- Puppies usually play rough because of a lack of training and teething. Also, their constant use of teeth and mouth might irritate your older dog.
- There can be a communication and understanding gap between your dogs.
- There can be behavioral issues with your older dog. The older dog may be less socialized, aggressive, or exhibit fear towards the puppy.
Try to understand the nature of your dog before introducing a new puppy into your home.
How To Introduce a Puppy to Your Current Dog?
The better the first introduction and first impression of a puppy, the easier the transition will be for both dogs. If the initial introduction does not go smoothly, it might take some time for transition with regular training.
Step: 1 – Choose the Right Puppy to Introduce
You need to choose the right puppy in terms of temperament and breed for your current situation. Conduct thorough research in this regard to make the best choice. It is crucial for maintaining a good relationship between dogs. For instance, your old, ill dog might feel insecure in the presence of a puppy of a giant breed.
- Consider Health Precautions
Before bringing a new puppy into your house, ensure that they are not suffering from any health issues. Check for distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus (canine hepatitis), and rabies vaccination status. Your vet might ask you for additional vaccines, including Parainfluenza, Canine Parainfluenza, and Bordetella. Some of these answers will already be answered if you adopt from a licensed breeder. Your vet should also examine the following points:
- A fecal examination should be performed before introduction.
- There should be proper examination to prevent fleas and ticks in furs.
- If your dog is old, go for a heartworm test as well.
In the beginning, prevent ER trips and keep an eye on the puppy’s condition to prevent health issues.
First Impression Matters
While making introductions, the first impression of a puppy and an older dog matters a lot. Let the meeting be simple with the aim of neutral territory.
Use long leashes behind the dogs while giving a slack. The leashes should be at least 20 feet long.
Make the walk your focus of attention. Don’t allow extreme interaction with dogs. You can allow the sniffing to prevent social pressure.
Walk similarly with the dogs and cover an intermediate distance. If you feel aggression in dogs, it’ll be an indicator of stress.
Also, look for positive indicators like playing signs. Watch them closely to understand their behavior.
You can also hold a meeting at your house while bringing the puppy inside your home.
Try to work on building good relations among your dogs. It will save the effort of training at a later stage.
Step: 2 – Proper Management
After introducing a dog, proper management and maintaining equality between the dogs are also critical.
- Check the Resource Division
The resource guarding can be an issue in the introduction of a new dog. It can be over food, toys, couch space, and treats. Some dogs might get aggressive on diversion of attention. You need to consult with a dog behavioral consultant if the situation gets worse.
- Provide Separate Space for Both
For effective management, it is a good idea to separate the living and sleeping space of the dogs. You can also separate them by dog gates and canine pens. A private space will lead to a sense of satisfaction for the dogs.
- Learn From Mistakes
The rules of introduction might differ depending on the dog’s behavior. You can revise your instructions using a trial-and-error technique. Also, learn from your mistakes and make them the strong points. For instance, there can be a chance that your dog takes some time to welcome the new addition. So, be vigilant accordingly.
Step: 3 – Reward Good Behavior
Rewarding is also vital for encouraging the relationship between the adult dog and the puppy. If your dog is showing affection and playing behavior to the puppy, appreciate this acceptance. Try to reward your dog with treats or toys to provoke a sense of achievement. The same goes for the puppy to be rewarded for performing well and showing good behavior towards the adult dog.
Step: 4 – Train and Teach Skills
Puppies are usually less trained and not aware of house training and behavioral etiquette. It would be best to initially enforce sleeping time, eating habits, and house training by gestures. Also, it would help if you familiarize your dog with dos and don’ts during playtime.
Some breeds of dogs might be harder to train. You can consult with an obedience training center in this regard. Teach your dog well for a healthy and joyful home environment moving forward.
Introducing a Puppy to Groups of Dogs
If you have a group of dogs at home, the process of introducing them will be identical. You’ll have the additional benefit that your older dogs will be ready to accept a new sibling. Keep in mind that it will still be complicated from the perspective of the puppy.
It would be best if you introduced the dogs one by one with your puppy. Notice the details of the behavior and check if there is any aggression.
Dogs also mark their territories with urine and waste if they feel insecure due to a new puppy. You can deal with this problem with proper house cleaning or by choosing a pet waste removal service like Poop Genie in this regard. Don’t let pet waste pile up in your territory. Book your first service now for a cleaner, fresher outdoor area. Get in touch for a quote!
Wrapping Up
We hope this article helps anyone who wants to introduce a new puppy into their adult dog’s home. While getting a second dog, it is essential to check and create compatibility with the previous dog for a harmonious home. Also, stay vigilant in the beginning to prevent any mishaps. Train them well for prolonged happy pet parents and dogs down the road.
References:
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/puppy-information/introducing-puppies-to-senior-dogs/
https://www.thesprucepets.com/introducing-dogs-and-puppies-2805078