A new pet joining the fold and coming into our lives is a fun and exciting time for animal owners. However for our existing four-legged friends sometimes introducing a new canine can be a time of uncertainty and an unsettling experience. Scientific Nutritional Products takes a look at some simple steps, which when combined with plenty of patience, can help facilitate this process being as straight-forwards as possible.
Simply putting two new animals together and expecting them to just get along is asking for trouble… first impressions matter, and if your dogs don’t hit it off in the beginning, it’s possible they may never learn to get on.
Dogs have a very strong sense of smell, and this is an important consideration when introducing a new pet. Although it’s tempting to give your new furry friend free roam of the house, it’s may be wise best to initially put them in a crate or separate room out of sight of your existing canine. This gives your new dog the opportunity to slowly get used to their surrounding and after a few days their scent will be more present in the house.
After this initial period place your existing dog in a separate room or outside, and allow your new pet to roam the house leaving their scent around. You could even swap the bedding and toys of each pet in order to transfer the scent and giving both parties the opportunity to get used to each other's smell!
When it is time for the first face-to-face introduction it is best to organize this on a neutral territory, i.e. away from your house, as most dogs can feel a little territorial when another animal enters their home.
Having your dog on a lead can lead to aggressive behaviour if your dog feels threatened so where possible try to find a small, enclosed area where the two dogs can run around together.
Watch the dog's behaviour carefully as they meet, high, wagging tails generally indicate they are feeling threatened and are not happy - whereas low tails, between their legs, and low flat ears may indicate all is not well. If this happens, be ready separate them if required. This stress-free and safe routine is the best way to introduce new dogs, as a dog's sense of smell is their primary sense, but if this method doesn't work and your canines still do not appear happy when meeting you may need to seek the advice of a trainer or behaviourist.
Remember if you are bringing a puppy into a household with an older dog, you should always supervise them when they are together. Puppies tend to want to play and may be too rough for the older dog. Don't forget your older dog will still need alone time too and every dog, whatever their age, will need their own time with the family so their relationship with their owners isn't compromised so ensure your attention is shared equally.
A range of canine supplements including Canine Joint Right a Glucosamine for Dogs Supplement is available from Scientific Nutritional Products. For more information or to receive one-to-one advice specific to your dog contact our nutritional specialist Peter Fishpool on Tel: 01377 254900 or visit www.horsesupplementsdirect.co.uk
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