How To Introduce A New Dog To The Old Dog?

Question

I have a six year old Yorkie and have just adopted a seven year old Yorkie. I want them to be friends. How can I help things along?

Answer 1

First of all take them out to neutral territory. That way there won't be any territory disputes to start them off on the wrong foot.
Have them both on a lead and get them to approach each other slowly. If they are getting along at this stage its all good. If not, its a lost cause.
Next let the dogs play for a bit and get to know each other. Then walk them home together and have the original dog enter the house first. if the original dog will let the new one in, the results are promising.
From there, let both dogs loose in the house and yard so they can both explore. Don't be surprised if there are a few fights. Let them go as long as things don't get too nasty. This is how they settle dominance.
Finally, cross your fingers!

Answer 2

Bringing a puppy into any home with an established dog usually goes off without a hitch. Older dogs are quite tolerant of the playful pups and will put up with quite a lot. Bringing home an adult dog is a different story. Putting together more mature dogs can lead to friendly "play-fighting" - which often looks far worse than it really is. Play-fighting is simply a way for the dogs to establish home dominance and which of the two will be the leader of their little pack. Pay close attention to the level of aggression that will be displayed during such play. And under no circumstances should dogs that do not get along with each other ever be forced to do so.

As social as dogs are, there are steps you can take to ensure that bringing home a new pet to an already existing "dog family" goes smoothly. Try these little tricks for yourself.

The Meeting Place.
Before bringing home a new pet have the two meet at a neutral location (like the park). This way your old dog won't start to feel that his territory is being infringed upon.

Let's Be Friends.
Introduce the new pet as a new playmate and friend. If your old dog plays with the new pet first, he'll be more accepting once the new pet comes home. Also it wouldn't hurt to have a friend your dog is comfortable with handle the new pet for you. The last thing your dog needs is to feel that you've found yourself a new best buddy.

Get-Out-Of-My-Bed.
Regardless of your dog's age when it comes to "his stuff", it's his stuff. Make sure the new pet has his own place to sleep and his own toys. Early on, try feeding them in different rooms - or separate meal times altogether is also a good way of reducing competition and territorial squabbles.


You're Still My Best Friend.
Coming home with a new pet often doesn't sit well with established pets. It's at this time you should make an extra effort to remind him that he's still your dog and you love him more than anything.

Eventually both pets will come around to accepting one another. And while the old guy might not be so quick to offer up his favorite chair, he will come to share his things with the new guy. And in time, he'll even share you.

Answer 3

If you have the opportunity, let them spend a significant amount of time together outside the house before bringing them home together. If you don't have that luxury, have the first meeting be out of the house somewhere on neutral territory, rather than right in the house or yard. This will put them on even footing.

If the neutral grounds meeting(s) goes well, meetings in the house can proceed more quickly, and if not well, the next steps need to go more slowly. I like to crate the dogs beside each other, or crate the newcomer, to see how the dogs can tolerate each others presence in the house. You could also simply lock them in separate rooms or confine them on either side of a baby gate. I want to see them being relatively calm and either ignoring each other or showing polite interest in each other before turning them loose in the house. This step could take hours or weeks depending on the dogs.

When you do turn them loose together, it's often recommended to leave a leash on, not to hold, but to provide a way you can separate them if things don't go well. Don't talk to, pet, or coddle either of them... unless they're fighting or bullying each other, just let them figure each other out. Depending on how quickly they start to get along, you may still want to separate them for a while when you are not present or for overnight.

Don't rush the initial stages of introduction. It's a real pain to keep the dogs separated in the house when your ultimate goal is for them to be loose and interacting, but going through these stages too quickly will be much more headache in the long run. You can't mess anything up by going too slowly, but the same is not true of going too quickly.

Answer 4

First of all..u will need to do it on nutral taratory. like out side in the driveway ..your dog will probably be taratorial in the yard if u do it there or in the house he will be very taratoryial.

Do it gradually. I believe if the older dog realizes that the new dog isnt a threat then things will go smoothly. give postive reinforcement and praise for being nice to other dog..and ect. and let him kno that you are not replacing him just adding to the "pack" . If u show that u are nervous..they can scence it and then they will really act up. Just be calm and be positive. Hope that works for you and good luck :)

Answer 5

It won't mean wherther is 2 different sexes, thing won't happen. I recalled reading from a book about dog. Firstly you bring your old dog out from your house, then you bring in the new dog, after that you bring back your old dog into the house. Then the 2 dogs will be fine. But you've to understand your old dog's character to prevent it hurting the young one. If the old dog is not happy about the young dog, normally it will urine onto the young one. :p

Answer 6

Let them smell each other first. Be there and observe their attitude. Bring both dogs for a walk together. Feed them at the same time but in different bowls........it will work trust me. I hd done it before to my 8yrs old GSD and 2 months old crocker spaniel then.........now GSD is 11 yrs old and the crock is 4 yrs old.......they are good friends now although little arguments arises at times..........Good Luck!!!

Answer 7

They get along best if they are opposite sex. But either way just let them work it out and be sure to give your first baby the same attention if not more so he doesnt feel like hes being replaced.

Answer 8

What I would do is stand in between them on a lease
and have them stand side ways of each other for a couple of minutes. then Let them get closer to each other they should be fine, if they start to fight jerk the lease but usually they decide the pecking order and it OK after that. I have three Yorke's myself

Answer 9

On neutral territory...not at your home, but a park on some other place. That way no one feels like their territory is threatened or they are being invaded.

Answer 10

I would go slow at first. The dog that was already your pet may feel jealous, so make sure you reassure him.