Introducing your new rescue to a current dog.

If you’re introducing your new dog to an existing one, there are several things that you can do to build a positive association to each other. In this example, we are going to call our current dog Reggie and our new rescue dog Polly to make it all a little clearer. Firstly, both dogs are going to be a little on edge, it is a big change for both of them and whilst Polly will have to go through a whole life change, Reggie will also need some reassurance to not feel left out.

1. Designate a room in the house/flat for both dogs, let Reggie keep his usual favourite room and offer Polly a quieter and more secluded space, such as a spare bedroom. Get this all set up beforehand so it’s a calm transition for everyone. The room will need:

• Pee pads, just in case your new one is a little too overwhelmed to explore in the garden.
• A bed or open crate with lots of blankets.
• A bowl of water.
• One, or maybe two toys. Often, rescues have not experienced having their own toys and this is something to introduce a little later on.

2. Consider not bringing Reggie to come and collect Polly unless they have met before. This is a huge amount of change for little Polly, and she may direct her insecurities or nerves on to Reggie, best to give her a little more time to know you’re not so scary on your own.

1. Introduce Reggie and Polly outside of the house and garden – if possible, have your partner, family member or close friend collect Reggie from home and walk to meet you in a nearby park or large open space.
2. This part is very important. It may be hard but try not to greet Reggie and avoid encouraging the two dogs to greet each other, even if they seem happy. The more emotion you place here, the more the dogs will feed off that and the situation can become highly tense. Instead, continue your walk with both dogs on the lead until they’re much more comfortable and relaxed. If there seems to be any tension between the two, this is most likely due to uncertainty – don’t be discouraged! Place yourself and your friend between the pups to begin with, at a distance that they look to be comfortable and very slowly increase the space between them.

If at any point they seem to be uncomfortable, take it back a step and take it slower. It can take a long time, but this is the best way for them to learn that neither are that scary.

DO NOT FEED YOUR DOGS TOGETHER OR PRESENT FOOD AROUND THEM! RESUCE DOGS ARE OFTEN RESOURCE GUARDERS AND THIS CAN HAVE LONG TERM EFFECTS ON THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

1. Once you are home, how you manage the situation is entirely up to you. Every relationship is different, and you will be the best judge of this. To be extra safe, check out our blog on Anxious Body Language and look out for those signs.

2. If Polly or Reggie are incredibly nervous, hyperactive or reactive, best thing to do is keep them on a lead inside and work in separate areas to teach them how to settle. Don’t be discouraged, this is a really early stage, and most dogs will settle into each other’s company after a few days.

Remember – If you’re used to having Reggie sleep in the kitchen or laundry room, you may be tempted to get them both in there on the first night. This is something that should definitely be avoided as these two should not be left alone together for the first couple of weeks. Even the most gentle and caring dog has a threshold, so safety and extra precautions in the early days are essential. Whilst it can be seemingly overboard, any altercation between the two dogs can affect their relationship and set you back a long way, so, your carpet may have to suffer the wrath of some extra dog hair for a few days!

Due to travel times, restrictions, traffic and all things planning, we have the odd occasion where our dogs may arrive at a strange hour. On the plus side, this can give you that ‘on the way to the airport for an early flight’ excitement but can affect how you introduce your pups. In this case, it’s always best to stay safe and avoid any risk. Leaving two dogs in an enclosed space if they are not already friends is a big no-no. So opt for a spare bedroom set up for your new arrival. To build reassurance between you and both Reggie and Polly, it can be a good idea to have a your or your partner/ family member to take a sofa sleepover with your newcomer, and let Reggie have a cheeky snooze in the bed to not feel so left out. The next day, take them out to a quite park or a friends (large) garden to follow the steps above.

For the first few days, take a step back and try not to overwhelm your dogs. Essentially, it is the same thing as you suddenly moving in with a complete stranger who speaks a different language – you would like more space to yourself. Even little things like separate water bowls, not encouraging them to get on the sofa together, or even not trying to get them into a photo together. The general direction you should be looking for is giving them a chance to peacefully co-exist before becoming best friends.

It can take days, weeks or even months for the two to feel entirely comfortable with each other, and there are bound to be a few bumps along the road. Don’t feel discouraged and reach out to a force-free behaviourist if you need support. Our team is always on hand for advice to put you in touch with our incredible community of past adopters will be able to offer their stories and recommendations.