How to Introduce a New Dog to an Old Dog?

Planning to welcome another furry member into your family? If yes, here’s an important task: Introducing the newest pup to your existing pet. Dogs are social animals who are comfortable living in a group but introducing a new puppy or dog to your existing pet should be done cleverly.

Developing friendships between the two pets makes it easier for you to manage both canine friends. Your old friend might feel jealous if you stall this task. If you are socializing a scared dog, there is additional care that needs to be taken. Hence, without much ado, you must learn how to introduce a new dog to an old dog.

Tips on how to introduce a new puppy to an older dog

Whether you are fostering a dog or welcoming a new puppy, you should first plan your way forward on how to introduce a new puppy to an older dog. While most dogs are friendly, they are also territorial. If this is your first time taking care of a youngling, do have a puppy needs list handy! This also means you need to be smart while introducing them to a new dog. As a pet parent, it is your job to ensure that both the dogs are comfortable. Here are a few tips to introduce a new dog to an old dog:

Introduce them when both the dogs are happy

Plan the first meet of your old and new pets only when both are happy and calm. Once you get the puppy home, take it to your senior dog and let them get familiar with one another. Let your dog's names be known to each other, so they can learn to recognise it. Both dogs might sniff each other and go around in circles trying to play with each other. Even if your old dog ignores the new furry member (and vice versa), they will most likely warm up after spending some time together. If possible, try and introduce both dogs outside the house before welcoming the new one to the family.
Individual belongings

Avoid sharing food bowls, water dispensers, and toys between both pets, at least in the initial days. Buy an individual set of toys, walking accessories, and food bowls for both pooches and try to give equal attention to both. Food and playtime should also coordinate, this will give them ample time to warm up towards each other and develop a friendship.
Give space

Do not put both your fur babies in a small, congested room. Give them ample space to roam around and play. Small puppies are more likely to be hyperactive, whereas adult dogs might be a little calmer. If you put them together in a confined space, your pets might always be at loggerheads. Hence, to avoid unnecessary aggression, put them in a room that has ample space for them to play and rest.

How to get an old dog to like a new dog?

Before getting a new pooch home, ensure to build a friendship between your senior dog and the new puppy. The following are a few things you can do to learn how to introduce a new dog to an old dog in the right manner:

Walk them together

The fastest way to warm up your old dog to the new puppy is to take them on regular and frequent walks. Follow the steps given below to walk your old dog along with your new puppy:

Step 1: Allow the dogs to meet each other (they do so by sniffing and going in circles around each other).

Step 2: Put them on a leash and hold each one on either side of you.

Step 3: Maintain some distance between them so that they don’t get into each other’s way.

Step 4: Once they get comfortable walking with you, try parallel walking, i.e. make them walk side by side.
Allow off-leash playtime

Once both the dogs grow a little fonder of each other, you can start giving them some off-leash playtime together. Remove their leash and allow them to explore the surroundings together. Dogs might try to jump over each other and get into small tussles. However, this is normal, so breathe easy. Intervene only if the situation goes out of hand. Keep monitoring the dogs during their initial off-leash interactions; once they get comfortable with each other you can proceed to leave them alone.
Monitored mealtime

In the initial days, it is best to monitor your pooches during mealtime. Separate them by serving them in different food bowls at a distance. While both can be served together, make sure to maintain at least a 3-feet distance between the two. Allow them to reunite and play only once they have finished their food. This will curb them from stealing each other’s food and water. Consider giving them a meal from Cesar’s range of wet dog food!
Take them to separate rooms after playtime

In the initial month, do not force the dogs to spend the whole day together. Try to put their beds on opposite ends of the room or in separate rooms. Dogs take a few months to settle with one another, so make sure someone is always available to monitor the dogs during play time.
Train them

Train both dogs to accept one another by allowing them to get familiar with one another. You should also instruct them together and use a similar tone for both without discriminating. Also, reward them with treats and pats for good behavior to encourage them to develop a friendship faster.

Now that you know how to introduce a new dog to an old dog, we hope you get to welcome the new fur baby home without any hassle. Along with following the above-mentioned points, let your existing pooch socialise with other dogs and pets in the vicinity; this will help it accept the new fur baby faster.

Frequently asked questions

Will my dog ever accept the new dog, how to introduce a new dog to an old dog?

Yes, most likely your old dog will eventually accept the new dog. However, this can take a few months. In the meantime, you should constantly try to get them to socialise with each other by taking them on walks and letting them play together when you are around.
What is second dog syndrome?

Second dog syndrome is when guardians rely on their first pet to train their new dog instead of spending time with it and building a bond with them.
What is the 3-3-3 dog rule?

The rule of three allows pet parents to study their pooch’s process in adjusting to its new home. 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months are the different parameters you can study to know how well the new fur baby is adjusting to its new home. The first 3 days are when the fur baby first tries to make sense of its new home, after 3 weeks it has learnt its daily routine at home, and after 3 months it starts accepting the new place as its home.
When should you not get a second dog?

It is best to get a second dog once your dog has turned at least one- to two-year-old. If you plan to get a new puppy before your first dog turns one, then it can get difficult for you to train and manage two puppies at the same time.