Introducing a New Dog to Your Existing Pet

Most conflict between a resident pet and a newcomer is created in the first hour, and it is avoidable.

Meet on neutral ground

Introduce outside the home, both on loose leads, walking parallel at a distance before allowing any sniffing. A home introduction turns the resident dog territorial before anything else happens.

Remove the triggers

Pick up all food bowls, toys, chews and beds for the first week. Almost every early fight is over a resource.

Separate by default

Feed in different rooms. Use baby gates. Supervise every interaction for the first fortnight and give both animals somewhere to retreat to.

With a resident cat

The cat needs vertical escape routes and a gated room the dog cannot enter. Never let a dog chase a cat 'to get it out of their system'.