How to introduce a new pup to another dog in the same house?

[Crested]

Ben is afraid of dogs, but not puppies. He likes to bark at dogs/puppies that are smaller then him. He has always been the center of attention with everyone and is not used to having another dog in the same house with him. His fear of dogs is slowly decreasing (luckilly), so I am convinced that he will do well with this new girl.
The question is... How do I introduce the two of them?
Could you give me a few tips and pointers what to think of introducing them and about having 2 dogs?

/Crest

[DogPaddle]

Introduce the new puppy to Ben with the puppy in a crate and Ben free.
Step up to the puppy gated in the kitchen (unless that is where Ben's food is) and Ben free on the other side. Anytime Ben does something good or nice praise, give him lots of treats whenver he is around the new one and pleasent so he thinks this new addition is a good thing. If Ben is pleasent and the puppy is not shying bring Ben into the gated kitchen and let them get to now one another (you use the gated room because its smaller and you can keep a better eye on them, they can't tear off.)

[Horsefeathers!]

Just keep accumulating dogs until they're so used to it, they barely turn their heads at the sight of a new dog. I swear that's apparently what I'm doing. I don't even go through the introductions anymore. I just pitch a new dog in there and let them sort it out. They look at each other and sniff and go back to sleep as if to say, "Yup, that's a dog." With the exception of Penny. Very long & drawn out introductions with her because she would just as soon kill another dog as to look at it. Other than that...

Anyway, if you don't plan to "desensitize" Ben by getting so many dogs he just stops caring, you could always follow DP's advice. *snicker* :lol:

Seriously, DP's advice is great, but I'd like to add something. Just from my years of tossing dogs together, I believe it is best, once the initial formal introductions are made, to let the dogs sort themselves out. Of course, you'll want to closely monitor them. I always let mine sort out any differences. Dogs are pretty good at establishing order. I let them go through any posturing, grumbling, sniffing, whatever. As long as it doesn't involve bloodshed and blatant attacking, I believe they should be watched and not disturbed. I'm certainly not saying let them FIGHT it out. SORTING things out is different. I kind of believe that TOO much coddling an insecure dog can kind of backfire because some dogs are intelligent enough to figure out exactly what is getting them the extra attention and will milk it for all it's worth (example- I have one dog who is absolutely terrified of storms, but when we started trying to coddle and comfort him, he became more insecure and more panicky because we were basically rewarding his fear... if we just go about things as normal, he will go somewhere and lie down... in other words, we try not to "validate" his fears). Since I think dogs pick up on our vibes, I usually try to be more matter of fact rather than give them a chance to think that something is amiss. I may be radical in my thinking and please do understand that I am NOT a trainer. This is just from my own experiences with my own gang of misfits.

All that just to say to let them sort things out once the formal introductions have been made. Unless you have a REALLY crazy dog (like my Penny who does NOT get to sort anything out... that *would* involve bloodshed), things will likely settle down pretty quickly and you'll have two dogs who are secure and established in their respective places within the "pack."

Anyhoo, good luck.


*This is the reason I have been here soooooo long and have no more paws than I do. I don't post to many topics. I just make looooooong drawn out posts to a few.* :-?

[Malamum]

I have heard that introducing a new pup away from the home is a good idea.

They way when they first meet, the existing dog can just concentrate on checking out the new dog rather than thinking

"she's in my house", "that's my toy she's touching", etc...... and hopefully his first reaction won't be to be possesive of what he thinks is his stuff.

then when it's time to go home he should think "cool - mum's bringing my new friend too"

Also remember that when you buy new toys for the new pup, buy new ones for Ben too otherwise he may get jealous.

[DogPaddle]

HF - I very much agree with letting the dogs sort it out so long as they don't get to rough. We don't fully understand them and they can work out who's going to be alpha better than us so when we interfer we usually just mess it up.

[Crested]

Well it looks like my parents are planning to go to our little summer cottige about at the same time as the new pup would come. Ben hasn't been there either so I guess it would be a pretty neutral ground. I guess I could introduce the two of them there.
Ben has started to get along little dogs (Bichon Havainases in particular) and seems to get along with girls better then boys. So I'm glad the new pup is going to be a girl! Thanks for all your advice! I'll have to try them out! :)
Now I'm going to put an update on Ben to the "Help! A male and a feemale under the same roof..." -message! :wink:

/Crest

[Mary's Mama]

Hey all, I was reading this post with much interest as I only have 3 weeks left till the baby comes home. We are going to PA to get him and taking Mary so they will meet on neutral ground. My only question after all your comments is....some of you spoke in terms of adult to adult introductions, do you feel an adult to puppy introduction is any different. I would think the pup is much more vulnerable in the "sort it out" situation. So would you take different precautions for a puppy than an adult?