How to Introduce Your Puppy to a New Home With Dogs

If you've decided to add a new four-legged member to your family, there are special considerations to be made if you already have other dogs in the home. Dogs are not primates like humans, but rather respond instinctively with a pack mentality to other dogs that enter their domain. Even your sweetest resident dog can use aggression to establish dominance toward a smaller, weaker dog entering into what they consider their territory, so you will need to be patient and diligent as you introduce any new puppy into your household.

Things You'll Need

  • Leash
  • Treats
  • Crate
Show More

Instructions

  1. Before the Puppy Comes Home

    • 1

      Make sure that the new puppy is healthy. Take it to get its shots and remove any parasites such as fleas or ticks before it is introduced to your other dogs to ensure the well-being of all your animals once they become acquainted.

    • 2

      Resolve any behavioral issues with your resident dogs before introducing a new puppy, who will learn more from your other dogs than it will from your training. This includes the negative behavior you don't like.

    • 3

      Introduce the puppy and your resident dogs one at a time on neutral territory. Have a friend meet you in another yard or a park setting. Have both dogs on their leashes. Control the leash but don't keep too tight a rein. It will agitate your resident dog, if he doesn't have room to move when approached, by this new puppy.

    • 4

      Carefully watch the body language of both your resident dog and the new puppy. Positive behavior like the "play-bow" where the dog will squat down on its front two paws to instigate playfulness should be rewarded with enthusiastic praise and treats.

    • 5

      Conversely address any hint of aggression immediately. These include showing any teeth, growling or a prolonged stare. Use the leash to restrain the offending animal and take it away from the situation, until such time as is has calmed down. After a short waiting period, the introduction can be resumed.

    • 6

      If either dog becomes aggressive and leash restraint or removal from the company of the dog does not resolve it, postpone the introduction to another time.

    • 7

      Once the dogs have acclimated themselves to one another in a place, other than the home it is then time to introduce them again, in the home.

    After the Puppy Comes Home

    • 8

      Keep the puppy separate from the other dogs, initially. The resident dogs may feel intimidated or stressed to have a new member added to their pack and wish to establish the pecking order. Instead keep the puppy confined to areas the other dogs typically avoid, such as a bathroom. You may also use a crate.

    • 9

      Initiate a supervised bonding time for the new puppy and the other dogs. Keep this time to short intervals, like five or ten minutes in the beginning. Keep the meetings with the dogs limited to one-on-one to avoid the other dogs ganging up on the new puppy.

    • 10

      Remove any toys or anything that might cause conflict or territorial behavior, to reduce acts of aggression. Give them plenty of room, like a yard, but keep a watchful eye. If the older dog shows aggression, separate them immediately.

    • 11

      If your dog is well socialized, in that it doesn't normally show aggression to other dogs or get into fights, allow it to set certain boundaries with the new puppy with natural nips, snarls or barks.

    • 12

      Watch your older dog for signs of fatigue when dealing with the new pup, who won't recognize until it is a few months old how to read the older dog. If the older dog becomes agitated as it tires, remove the puppy.

    • 13

      Repeat this bonding process until you are convinced that they can they be trusted to be left alone. This generally takes about a few weeks or so.