Introducing a new pup to your current pets

Prevent

• Set up the initial introduction so that both resident and new pets feel safe and secure. This may mean you get the new pet settled into the home for a few days before the official meeting. 

• A working knowledge of the body language of each species involved will be needed so that you can intervene if they feel uncomfortable. Have a plan for confinement, and what to do if management fails and there is an altercation. If you are ready for the worst-case scenario, chances are you will not have to use that plan. 

• Everyone should have the option to retreat, give cats vertical spaces to escape to and dogs can have a crate or bed and gates/door with buffers so they can take breaks.  

• Protected contact – use exercise pens, crates and gates to allow visual and sniffing contact first.

What to do

• Take things slow - watch both pets to assess their levels of stress during the introduction.  Proceed when both are calm and able to shift their focus off of the other pet (for attention, treats or exploring the environment).  

• Choices – don’t force the greeting, each pet should be allowed to approach/engage when ready, if one needs a little more time to warm up, manage the more social pet and give them time to get comfortable.  Focus on being calm while seeing one another and sharing space to start.

• Short sessions – let the new pets meet for a few seconds, then encourage them to come away and take a break. Build up time slowly.

• Make the presence of the other pet pay–every time you start the introduction process, bring out the best treats and use liberally. The presence of the other makes good stuff happen. Be aware of any resource guarding and limit this to times they are at a disctance if it may initiate a fight.

• Let them eat where they can see one another but make sure there is enough distance and/or barrier in between the pets so they don't have to worry about stealing. If they aren’t able to relax and eat calmly, they are too close.

• Leave a harness and leash dragging to allow fast drama free interruptions that require no chasing or yelling, just step on the leash.  When they demonstrate they can negotiate with one another appropriately, you can fade management.  This means reading each other's distance increasing behavior and respecting it by giving space.

• Too much freedom too fast – be confident the interaction will go well, and interrupt /give breaks often. Do not allow chase games - between dogs/cats or large dogs/smaller dogs – some pets will never be able to play these games with one another due to the risk of predatory behavior, but even if they will be able to play chase, let them get to know one another well enough to negotiate with one another during high energy play.

• Do not leave unsupervised until you are sure they can cope if something goes wrong – some pets will never be safe unsupervised together, but for those who you plan to be able to leave together, start with short outings. You can use Zoom or Facetime to video in to make sure they interact well from another room or outside.  Separate until you feel confident they are comfortable.

• Do not let them 'work it out' – if there is an altercation interrupt immediately, letting your pets fight it out is dangerous and increases the chance of the placement failing.

• Not all pets want to live with another pet.  Seek a behavior professional to help if you find your pets are not making progress in adjusting within 10 days to 2 weeks.