Can a Behaviorist Help My Old Dog Adjust to a New Dog?

Behaviorist Assistance

• If your older dog is having a difficult time adjusting to the presence of the newbie, you might want to seek the talents of a professional animal behaviorist. If their interplay is aggressive, you definitely do. Battles and tension between dogs can often get dangerous, resulting in one or two of the animals getting hurt. Never allow aggression between dogs to persist. If you do, it might become all the more difficult to eliminate. If your dogs display aggressive and truculent behaviors toward each other, don't try to manage it by yourself, as that could be severely hazardous not only to you but to the rest of your household. Talk to your veterinarian about the problem and ask her if she has any recommendations for reputable professional pet behavior experts near you.

Slow Process

• If you're worried about future interactions between your dogs even though they haven't yet met face-to-face, remember that the key to bringing them together is time. Remember to allow the new cutie several low-key days in his own private room to adjust to his brand new environment -- sans the company of your older pet. When you do make an introduction, do so in an area that is as impartial as possible. The last thing you want to do is make one of them perceive the other as being a territorial threat. Try to establish "happy" associations between the two of them. If they act calmly around each other, reward them promptly with yummy doggie treats. Make sure to leash the dogs during their initial meetings with each other. Have a family member or friend handle one dog while you handle the other.

Warning Signs

• If you've started allowing your dogs to meet and are closely supervising their interactions with each other, it's crucial to be on the lookout for any hints of aggressive behavior. Aggressive behavior is a sign that your dogs need immediate professional help. Some telling signs of canine aggression -- and impending aggression -- are teeth exposure, growling, intense staring, tense bodies, throaty barking, any biting and thrusting. If you ever sense any aggression between your pets, separate them right away and look for that qualified professional behaviorist, stat.

Pairings

• If you just can't figure out why your pets don't get along, consider a couple of different factors. Gender might come into play in this situation. Opposite-sex pairings often tend to be successful and peaceful. Two boy dogs also frequently work well together. Two girls, on the other hand, often lead to fighting and tension. Outside of sex, age and energy levels also are important considerations. Lively and active wee puppies might be thought of as nuisances by older dogs, especially those with reduced mobility. Just remember that there are exceptions to all of these things. Two female dogs could become the closest of pals instantly, for example.