Successfully Bringing a New Dog Home

[Hulk]

I have wanted to post this for several months now but haven't been able to because it is a subject hard for me to talk about...Those of you who know the situation know I am talking about Hulk and Havok...I haven't openly talked about their situation on the forum yet, however, I wanted to share what I learned...A bad introduction could make or break whether or not the new dog gets accepted...Many of us even doing rescue, bring fosters in and out of home sometimes unsucessfully bc of the way we introduce them...
Here are a few tips to help..

1. The new dog spends at least 24 hours in the crate...The dog gets age appropiate potty breaks, plenty of exercise, and meal breaks...No introduction to your pack at all during this phase....Your dogs may come and sniff the kennel...The sniffing period should be brief and rewarded for positive sniffing...Watch body language and starring...Posturing or starring should be corrected immedietly...A confident dog will approach the kennel sniff for 2/3 seconds and walk away...make sure to reward that....
** The new dog is on leash at all times during this 24 hour period when leaving the kennel to potty etc.

You must be able to show your pack that you can control this new dog and show the new dog that you control your pack

2. Take a walk together, the entire pack...For those with multiple dogs have someone walk with you....Go for a long walk try to position yourself in the middle...Ideally you want your dog on one side and the new dog on the other side...I would use appropiate collars i.e. either a martingale or slip something that will help you to control behavior.

**Don't allow any of the dogs to be in front, all dogs must walk by your side...Again displaying control over the pack is very important here. It is a militant walk not a leiusure walk...no nose to nose sniffing allowed or greeting....

If all dogs go through this step successfully...Meaning there was no targeting(starring each other down) no growling, lunging or other inappropiate behavior then you can move on to the next step...The dogs should look at each other but it should be breif, tail should be nuetral, forehead should be relaxed not wrinkled..ears may be back but not up....

***If your dog is showing signs of non-acceptance repeat step 1 and 2 for another 24 hours...If again your dog shows signs of not accepting the new dog or the new dog not accepting your dog...This dog should not be forced into your home, you may end up with a brutal fight...

3. The dogs should meet in the backyard on leash....Do not do this step alone incase their are problems...Posture is key...No leaning, no starring, no putting their head above the other dog, watch their body language....Dogs should not be nose to nose, they will want to sniff each others parts which is normal...Sniffing again is brief and reward for good behavior....If this is going good with no signs of aggressive behavior from either party....you can work towards the next step.

4. Allow your dog off lead and invite everyone to come in...The new dog stays on lead with you holding the lead...The new dog will be that way for the next week at least...If you can't watch the new dog it must go in the kennel...If all goes well that week, the new dog may graduate to dragging his lead...

**Coming into the house as a pack is sometimes the hardest step because often times dogs will allow someone new into their backyard to "play" but not want them in the home...So be very vigilant and make sure you have the new dog with you on leash at all times..Showing again that you control this new dog will tell your pack that the situation is handled and they can relax...If they don't think you control this new dog, the alpha will step up and try and do so...This is when dog fights will occur...

Hope some of this helps!

[samsonsaunt]

Those are some very good tips. Especially for someone like me who hasn't experienced the 'getting to know you' stage of a dog's socialization. Our family dogs always came in one at a time.

[Barbs2Ks]

Great info Andrea, thanks for posting.

[samsonsmom]

Awesome post Andrea..think I will make this a Sticky..

[harley15671]

Very informative thanks for posting

i actually just read this. i didnt even see this thread!

very very good proceedure. we will definately go this method with our rescue. its not going to be easy to be "the enforcer" but i know its for the best.