Introducing Dogs
- Leave your own dog at home when you pick up your new dog.
- When first bringing a new dog home you want to give them a quiet, calm room to decompress in. They can get use to the new sounds, smells, and activity of the home while feeling safe in their crate. During the first few weeks, crate and rotate new bullie with your existing dog.
- Introduce the dogs on neutral territory, taking a walk through the neighborhood or a near by park. With aid of another adult, walk the dogs together. First handler will leash and walk with one dog, while second handler walks behind with the new dog. Let them see each other while maintaining a safe distance. When dogs have acknowledged each other, walk side by side while there is plenty of space between you. Allow them to sniff each other if appropriate. When you return home from the walk, separate dogs again. *DO NOT FORCE THE DOGS TO INTERACT*
- Next step would be letting dogs interact in the yard. It’s important that they still have plenty of room but that they are allowed to get a bit more personal with each other. Leashes should still be used, but should be kept loose. Let them get use to the yard, sniff around and get comfortable. Keeping a close eye on body language of both dogs.
- Final step is getting the dogs together inside the home. It is very important at this step to make sure that there are no toys, bones, food or treats that could cause scuffles. It is important to always keep a close eye on body language and that they are always supervised.
- Give each dog his own water and food bowls, bed and toys. The first few weeks only give the dogs toys and chews when they are separated. Be sure to pick up food bowls when you are done feeding. Some dogs will fight over bowls that recently contained food. Letting the dogs see each other and interact but using a baby gate to separate is a good way to let them move freely, but still feel safe. This is an important tool to use while they are still getting use to each other.