Introducing Your New Dog to Family Pets

Miles

Rover meets Fido

If you already own a dog and are considering adopting another, one of the best things you can do prior to adoption is to bring your current dog with you to meet his potential new buddy, so that the dog(s) can meet for the first time on neutral ground. Introductions are always completed best on neutral territory, where neither dog feels threatened or feels the need to defend his "turf". Ideally, find an area where the dogs can be slowly introduced while on leash. If all goes well and you have a safely fenced yard nearby, then they can be released to play freely off-lead in the yard. By using this method of introductions, a lot of snarling, growling and hair-raising is easily avoided. Provided both dogs seem to approve of one another, they can both go home as pals as opposed to being introduced on Resident Fido's property where he may feel the need to be defensive and protective.

Rover meets Kitty

Now that the canine intros are completed, what about introducing your new dog to the feline family member? The method that you use for this will largely depend on your dog's previous exposure to cats, and your cat's previous experience with dogs.

If your new dog has lived with cats before or has been "cat tested," you will still want to keep him on a leash while allowing him to greet your cat for the first time. This will give your cat a sense of security, and will also allow him to exit the room if necessary without being chased. Keep in mind that certain dogs, especially large breeds, may have a high prey drive for smaller animals. While they may not intend harm to your cat, they may be intrigued and might attempt a game of chase. Do your best to prevent this from occurring, as this behavior is reinforced each time your cat flees and your dog sees. If your new dog is overly interested in your cat, keep the dog leashed when your cat is around. Praise him lavishly and provide treats for ignoring the cat. Likewise, when he engages in chase or barks at the cat, make your displeasure known with a firm "NO KITTY" or "LEAVE IT" command. It make take a few days or a few weeks before your dog realizes that the cat is not a walking squeaky toy. Be consistent and you'll eventually see results.

One simple and economical tool to assist in promoting a positive relationship between your cat and your new dog is the use of a baby gate. Use the gate to separate rooms of the house, allowing the dog to observe the cat but not giving him access to the kitty. This will also allow your cat to join you in the remainder of the house, but if the dog begins to chase, your cat will have a means of escape into a dog-free room. Of course, if your dog is aggressive towards your cat (as opposed to simply interested in play), seek the advice of a local trainer or behaviorist and DO NOT allow your cat and dog to remain together unsupervised.