In this Quick Tips series, I pull out key lessons from dog training books that you can apply in your daily life. We’ll highlight interesting points from the selected books, and add additional commentary where relevant. (I like to focus our recommendations on things we’ve effectively implemented firsthand.) For those considering purchasing the book, these posts should also give you a good sense as to whether you’ll find the book worthwhile.
How to Introduce Dogs
Today we’re covering The Art of Introducing Dogs: A Guide for Conducting Dog-to-Dog Introductions by Louise Ginman. The main focus is on introducing a new dog into the household, rather than introductions for something short-term like a play session (though many of the points do carry over if that’s your primary interest).
The quotes in italics are from the book. The normal text is mine. The bold text is paraphrased questions I hear regularly from families.
Which types of new dog integrations tend to be the easiest?
“the most compatible dogs will be ones who have similar play styles, are opposite sexes or, if same sex, are desexed [ed. note: spayed/neutered] and separated in age by more than 2-3 years and will be of similar adult sizes e.g. a Chihuahua with a Siberian Husky is probably not going to be a good mix because the size difference is too great and play could turn into predatory behaviour or simply become too rough and dangerous for the small dog.”
My dog seems stressed out by the new dog. Does he need to be an only pet?
“A dog that has not ever had to share his home with another dog (except to have the occasional play mate over for a few hours) will likely feel stressed having another dog in the house upsetting the daily routine.”
It’s normal for there to be an adjustment period, and anyone considering adding a second dog should be prepared for this. Many dogs will not experience “love at first sight.”
I’m getting nervous about things not working out, how long should I wait before giving up?
“4-8 weeks for the dogs to settle but it can also take up to 6-9 months for the dogs to be really well bonded and comfortable with each other.”
The more you set the dogs up for success, the smoother the transition will be.
Things started okay, but now they’re a little tense. Is there hope for two dogs that don’t always get along?
“We tend to get highly emotional about dog fights but often they are canine versions of teenagers yelling and shoving”
The severity of damage is much more important than how bad the fight sounded, or whether it seemed like the fights happened for a “good reason.” This doesn’t mean that fights should be ignored, or that we can simply assume that things will “work themselves out.” But it does mean that even a large number of loud “arguments” don’t make a dog irredeemably aggressive.
When should I get worried about my dogs’ fighting?
“when the attacker targets and causes injury to the legs and abdomen of the other dog, fighting is serious.”
Attacks to these areas usually indicate a desire to harm, while cuts to the face (even bad bleeding from the ear), usually means the aggression was more ritualized, and that the intent was not to injure.
“Mild guarding of resources from other dogs is fairly normal but severe guarding is not.”
Be very careful with high value resources (like food, bones… anything that’s an animal-based product). Don’t set the dogs up for failure by forcing them to eat right next to each other when you first bring the new dog home.
How long should the dog-dog introductions take?
“The ideal introduction is one where we have planned each step, and given our dog up to 7 days (more would be great) of slow introductions… the most successful introductions are ones that are conducted for short durations that slowly build up to longer periods, are relaxed and fun and are conducted over a period of time.”
It’s easy to get excited, and to want everyone to immediately get along. But a new dog can be a big adjustment for the current family members, and pushing dogs to handle more than they’re prepared for can lead to more difficulties in the long-term. Patience, consistency and a good system go a long way in dog training.
What if I have multiple dogs?
“aim to do one on one introductions with each of your current dogs to the new dog/puppy before slowly putting all of the dogs together so that the new dog or pup is not overwhelmed.”
How should the dogs react to each other?
“ignoring or casual interest is quite a good sign—much better than tension or bullying.”
It’s not necessary that the dogs become instant playmates. Most balanced dogs will not immediately launch into non-stop play, and there’s nothing wrong with calm socializing. Don’t try to force the dogs to play or interact. Calm co-existence is a great first step.
How should I begin the first introductions?
“Begin by walking the dogs parallel… in the same direction is less threatening than walking towards each other. Only decrease distance between the dogs when they are showing relaxed behaviours… Direct head on approaches can be threatening and are considered ‘rude’ in dog language, curving is the correct approach… Keep rewarding and praising the dogs with light and happy voices and ensure your leads are loose… If either dog’s arousal goes over threshold—meaning, if they begin to react to the other dog out of frustration/excitement or via threatening displays, you will need to move further apart, calm one or both dogs”
Walks are a great way to strengthen bonds in a way that’s less stressful to the dogs. (This also works with many dogs who are wary of people.) Moving in the same direction is much less threatening to a dog, and it allows them to get to know/smell/observe the dog/person in a less tense manner.
Things are off to a good start. How can I make sure things continue in the right direction?
“Calmness is good, so encourage quiet resting… Assist the dogs to feel comfortable with each other in close proximity by handfeeding the dogs side by side if safe to do so.”
Introductions and integrations are much easier when the dogs have solid obedience training foundations and are responsive to the people in the household. If you know you’ll be adding a new dog soon, consider strengthening your current dog’s obedience. If you’ve already added the new dog, it’s not too late. Now’s a great time to get started with their training!
FINAL WORDS
Some of this might seem a bit excessive, or even intimidating. Plenty of dogs enter new households and figure things out without the people doing much of anything to ease the process. I always hope that things go smoothly, but hoping for the best does not suffice in many cases. Your dog is not a bad dog just because she doesn’t immediately take fondly to newcomers.
Need help making sure your dog gets along with other dogs? Fill out the form below and let’s see if we can help!
Nate Hess is the owner of Dogspring Training, which provides dog training and behavior consultation services in Fresno, Clovis, Madera and surrounding areas. He is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy and Stanford University, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and the International Association of Animal Behavioral Consultants (IAABC), and an evaluator for the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program. He also consults with dog rescues across the country.