How to Bring a 2nd Dog Into the House

Dogs are pack animals and establish their own hierarchy to reduce conflicts and increase collaboration between group members. At the same time, dogs are territorial and will go out of their way to defend their territory if they think another dog or animal is intruding. Before you bring a second dog into your household, you will need to prepare your pet to accept the new dog.

Things You'll Need

  • Leash
  • Collar
  • Treats
  • Feeding bowls
  • Water bowls
  • Toys
  • Blankets
  • Crate
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Instructions

    • 1

      Understand the personality of your dog. If your dog is friendly toward other dogs, you should not face too many problems in getting your pet to accept the new dog.

    • 2

      Find a dog that is compatible with your dog. The second dog should have the same energy levels as your dog and also be around the same size, so that they can play together without injuring each other. If the second dog is of the opposite gender, it helps to reduce friction between the dogs, advises Kathy Diamond Davis, an experienced dog trainer.

    • 3

      Introduce the two dogs in a neutral setting, such as a park, animal shelter or neighbor's yard. This will prevent your dog from viewing the second dog as an intruder. Have another person with you to manage the second dog. Make sure that both dogs are leashed. It may help to initially let the dogs see each other through a fence before bringing them together.

    • 4

      Allow the dogs to sniff each other once they are brought together. Reward them with a treat and praise both the dogs. This works as a positive reinforcement. If the dogs assume an aggressive posture, such raising their hackles, growling or baring teeth, immediately stop the interaction between them until they calm down. If your dog is well trained, you should not face a problem when you command it back down.

    • 5

      Bring the second dog home when they are no longer aggressive toward or fearful of each other, and the sniffing has ceased. Sniffing is one way that dogs to check other canines out. Tail wagging indicates that the dogs are relaxed in each other's company

    • 6

      Have individual feeding and water bowls, toys and sleeping areas for both dogs. This will prevent unnecessary territorial fights. Feed the dogs separately, preferably in different rooms. Keep the dogs apart initially, especially if you are planning to go out or are retiring to bed. Line a crate with a blanket for the new dog so that it feels safe in its new home.

    • 7

      Support the dominant dog even if it is the new dog. Allow the dominant dog to play with a toy it wants or to choose the sleeping area it prefers. This will help establish a social hierarchy between the dogs and avert confrontation. A dominant dog believes it is the pack leader and will not give up its toys, will be the dog on top while playing and will walk in front of the other dog in the yard. The other dog will have no alternative but to submit. If both dogs are dominant, they will constantly try to take control, leading to fights to establish hierarchy, according to trainer Kathy Diamond Davis. Dogs cannot be equals, notes Judith Halliburton in "Raising Rover": "There has to be a dominant dog; there has to be a subordinate dog."

    • 8

      Increase gradually the time the two dogs spend together. Stay around to supervise in case things get ugly. Once the dogs are comfortable with each other, are playing together and chasing each other, and have established a pack order, they will get along fine, according to Halliburton.