What is the best way to introduce an older puppy to two adult dogs?
LoveMyDogs asked:
I will be getting a show dog in July. He is intact, 10 months old. I already have two dogs. One is a Corgi, he’s curious about other dogs and shows no signs of aggression. My oldest dog is a Bernese, she is protective of her home and is very alpha. (she’s only Alpha over other dogs, she knows that her ‘human pack members’ are alpha over her.)
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I will be getting a show dog in July. He is intact, 10 months old. I already have two dogs. One is a Corgi, he’s curious about other dogs and shows no signs of aggression. My oldest dog is a Bernese, she is protective of her home and is very alpha. (she’s only Alpha over other dogs, she knows that her ‘human pack members’ are alpha over her.)
I was thinking it would be best to introduce them in the large grassy area down the block, NOT in our dogs ‘territory’, once they get to know each other, I will walk them all home side by side so they can establish that they are a pack, and also wear them out a bit to decrease the risk of a spar breaking out. Then bring them all into the house, Bernese first, then my Corgi, and *then* the new ‘pack member’.
As far as dog psychology goes, would this work out? If not, please explain why it would not and perhaps explain a better way to do it. Thank you.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:32 am
take a cloth/towel and rub it all over the puppy than do the same to the adult dog(s) with a seprate towel. Put the adult dog’s towel under the puppy’s food dish. Put the puppy’s towel under the adult dog’s food dish. They will get used to their different smells.
August 7th, 2009 at 4:33 am
Congratulations you have done your homework and this warrants an A+++++++++. That is exactly how your introducea new pack member.
August 10th, 2009 at 12:58 am
I personally would start with a walk. It is the alpha (you) bringing a new member into the pack. You walk as a pack yes. I would bring a friend to walk the new puppy at first behind the other two. Before you attempt to hold all three. Then you can stop in a grassy area watch for your dogs to react and respond appropriately. Putting down any aggression and letting the other dogs sniff. When you get them finally to your home never leave them alone together and always show your current dogs all the attention at first. So they don’t think they are being taken over. Slow and steady wins the race.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:03 am
Your idea is a good one, however, being on a leash brings out aggression in some dogs - even dogs who aren’t normally aggressive. So try it your way, but if it doesn’t work, try introducing them at home. Put your corgi and bernese in 1 room and the puppy in an adjacent room with a baby gate in between. Dogs get to know each other primarily by scent and that’s what they can do in this case - get used to each other’s scent. When your dogs, particularly the bernse, are calm and accepting of the new puppy, that’s the time to let them get together - supervised.
To reinforce your bernese’ position as top dog, you need to make sure you greet, pet and feed her first. The puppy won’t care, he’s new.
August 14th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Bring your dogs to the puppy, let them get to know it and play with it. When you have accomplished this, slowly bring the scent of your new dog around by using a toy that it has used or even the towl rubbing will work.
August 17th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
one suggestion is to get 3 of your friends and each of you take a dog walk in a line bout 5 metres apart then shorten the distance keeping the dogs on the left hand side so there not near each other than have both of the older dogs sit and have the younger one walk around that at a far distance then shorten it gradually watch for any reaction of the dogs siting if they break tell them NO!!!! and make them sit again then switch they should get used to each other very quickly this way and because there on lead u have total control of them
any problems email me
Cheer’s
duggie dog trainer and lover