We have a 19 month old lab male and are rescuing a 14 week old female lab/collie cross onSaturday. How do we go about introducing them. Any tips on putting them together? (He is neutered). How should we play the first few days? Serious answers only please.
2006-10-24 07:05:23 · 15 answers · asked by helen p 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
The way dogs identify each other is by sniffing each others behind seriously, I saw it on opera.
2006-10-24 07:32:19 · answer #1 · answered by milky 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I introduced a new 3 yr. old to an 8 yr. old with little hassle. They are both female so we were expecting worse, luckily the 8 yr. old is very easy going. Labs tend to be 'the more the merrier' type so it might not be too hard. Introduce them outside in a park maybe. This way its no ones 'territory', hopefully they will just like each other. At home don't force them to play together, act as if nothing is new, all is calm. They will work out a pecking order on their own. A 14 week old should not be territorial but might bug the older one to play all the time. Good luck!
2006-10-24 07:12:28 · answer #2 · answered by GreenGirl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Slowly and carefully.
If your Male is friendly I would suggest letting them meet on Neutral Territory first. Outside with both dogs on leads.If they are allowed to meet as naturally as possible and given time to investigate each other they will probably be fine.
If the introduction has to take place indoors then A crate is a good idea with a bed for the female. Put her in and let her settle then allow the male to enter the room. Leave them alone but watch them carefully. If all seems well open the crate and let her decide if she is ready to come out! They may appear to take to each other but for the first few days I recommend seperate feeding and make sure the female has a safe place to retreat to. Let her use the crate for sleeping and she will go there if she feels threatened!
She will need gentle assurance from every-one in the house as she will be unsure of everything so try to stay as relaxed as you can around her! The calmer the atmosphere the better!
Whenever you let the male out or take him out take her too and remember not to give her all the attention or your male could end up being jealous and resent her! Both are young and being opposite sexes they should settle well. Labs like company and are one of the easiest breeds to mix with another animal whatever the species !
Good Luck and enjoy your Dogs.
2006-10-24 07:52:56 · answer #3 · answered by willowGSD 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have bought 2 dogs into the family where dogs are already present i found the best hing to do is just let them get on with it obviously keep a close eye on things and if things start to get too rough separate them for a while. I have 3 dogs the first one i got is a jack Russell x Manchester terrier. I had him about 12 months and then we rescued a 5 year old king charles spaniel, they are now the best of friends and go everywhere together, and he actually calmed my jack Russell x right down. Then about 12 months later i bought a westie and she actually pins the other dogs down and gives them a wash even if they protest. I wish you every bit of luck and advise you to just stand back and let them discover who is going to be the boss. I know it will work out in the long run and they will end up being the best of friends
2006-10-24 11:54:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As they are good tempered breeds and young and opposite sexes and even neutered (so far any way as the pup is of course too young!) you have set yourself up to succeed. I anticipate very few problems but these tips will help you get them settled as quickly as possible:
Try and find somewhere you can introduce them on Saturday morning that is neutral ground. A good place would be in a safe park or even at the rescue centre. Let them met each other on the lead, sniff around and play if they feel like it. Then take them back to your house together. If you can't let them meet somewhere neutral let it happen in the garden and let you lab male take the lead. Leave them to it and let the pup follow him around.
Feed them in separate places especially as the pup will be eating more often during the day.
You'll be giving the pup lots of love and attention, just make sure that you give your existing dog as much if not more so that he doesn't get jealous or feel neglected.
Take time to take your lab male out by himself sometimes and to do a few training sessions by himself to make sure that he is happy and remains responsive to you.
They will play like possessed creatures together before long so make sure that things don't get too rough - and thats for either dog! Puppies have such sharp teeth!
If you will be paper training your pup inthe house, you can expect that your lab male may get a little confused and may want to scent mark over the pup's wees. This can happen even though he is neutered. It is best to train your pup to go in the garden although this will require someone to be home pretty much all the time at first.
For the first few days just let them work things out for them selves. The pup will be in awe of your lab and follow him around and sometimes he'll agree to play and sometimes he'll growl. Its no big deal - that pup will have lots of manners to learn.
Its really exciting adding a new pup to the familiy and your lab will really enjoy it too, especially as he is young and hardly an adult himself! Have a great time!
2006-10-24 10:28:13 · answer #5 · answered by PetLover 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
we introduced our second og to the first when she was 1 year old. I find that the best way is to let the dogs be together, not in a confined space however. make an awful lot of fuss to your old dog, reassure it that the new dog will not push it out. after all dogs work on "top dog" status and they can be funny if they think the new dog is going to take their place in the family.
Keep an eye on the dogs, you are likely to have a little growling or snapping from your old dog, but as long as no harm is done then it is just showing new dog who is boss.
Also as you now have male and female it is likely to be less trouble than if you had 2 dogs of the same sex.
My advise would be treat them like children, if they get out of hand seperate them, otherwise let them be. I should think as both are quite young they will get on very well as long as your boy has been well socialised
2006-10-24 07:16:27 · answer #6 · answered by bebishenron 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Keep a close eye on how the dogs behave with one another. Of course, the first thing dogs do when they meet each other for the first time is to sniff each other. Then they will start to play. Make sure you give each of them equal attention or else one of them will pee in the room out of spite. If one of the dogs are tired and the other wants to play, make sure you keep them apart for a little while, so they don't fight.
2006-10-24 07:23:29 · answer #7 · answered by jracer524 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to let them meet on a nuetral ground first and if you are rescuing your animal from a shelter then you will have been advised on what to do by them. I will give you a web address to go to and they will help you with expert advice ok. www.woodgreen.co.uk I have had many animals from them over the years and they are genuinely excellent people there that not only care for the animals that are dumped on them but also for the people too.
2006-10-24 07:20:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well helen, the ost important thing is that your first dog still gets the same attention he is used to. having a second dog meens that you have to be prepared to bring the same efford like you do for the first one, but now double it!!! as the femal is that young there should be no problem with your male at all. to introduce them is quiet easy, just get her in your house let him sniff and if he behaves nicey praise him a lot so he thinks behaveing nice to her gives him plus points. he wil once he got the message behave nice to her all the time to get that praising of you. do not worry dogs are easy to manipulate with praising. just do not shout at him while she is being praised or he will get jellous and doesn't want her around. good luck
2006-10-24 08:58:23 · answer #9 · answered by tower2bridge 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
give your lab lots of attention and fuss. i had this problem when i got a new puppy, my existing dog was very jealous of all the attention everyone gave the puppy and would snap at him and growl. after paying the older dog lots of attention and encouraging them to play together, ie with toys they eventually got along. you may be really surprised and find that the older dog will mother the puppy. good luck.
2006-10-24 08:19:20 · answer #10 · answered by julie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we have recently done the same, but we introduced a 5yr old lab to our 2yr old lab cross, basically let them handle it, dogs are well atuned to meeting each other and establishing an order, keep a close eye on them for fighting and lots of love and affection for both
2006-10-24 07:09:27 · answer #11 · answered by orfeo_fp 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋