How to Add a Dog to the Pack

Adding a new dog to your pack is a rewarding experience for the whole family. Take it slow and follow a few methodical steps. Dogs enjoy being part of a pack once the hierarchy is established, but initially you must assert control over how the dogs interact. By introducing the dogs slowly and always remaining in control of the pack, you can keep stress and negative behavior to a minimum. Once the dogs prove their compatibility, you will be able to let them interact more naturally.

Things You'll Need

  • Leashes
  • Crate, gate or other way to separate dogs
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Instructions

    • 1

      Introduce the dogs on neutral ground. Grab a friend and take the dogs for a walk together. Let them come to each other on their own terms in a positive way so that their initial encounter is free of rivalry.

    • 2

      Separate your dogs for the first few nights if they seem compatible and for as long as necessary if they show aggression toward each other. You can lock one dog in a separate room with a baby gate or use crates to separate them. Allow the dogs to smell and see each other without being in the same space.

    • 3

      Take your dogs for another walk together after a few days and let them interact and play. Remain in control of their interactions at all times. Give praise for friendly behavior, but stop the walk if either dog begins to growl or show aggression.

    • 4

      Allow your dogs to play together in the yard or living room after they have exhibited friendly or tolerant behavior toward each other. Leave their leashes on so that you can correct negative behavior by pulling them away and confining them.

    • 5

      Increase their play time together if the dogs are friendly, but slow down the process if they show aggression. Depending on the relationship between the dogs, the new dog could be living with the pack in as little as a week or as long as three months.

    • 6

      Separate dogs for feeding time and for playing with certain toys that they might fight over. According to Kathy Diamond Davis, dog trainer and author of "The Canine Behavior Series," "Your family and dogs are safest not to let this competition ever get started in the first place. So you may need to re-situate your single dog's food dish to keep his new sister's nose out of it, and stop leaving his toys out all the time" (see link in Resources).