Some pet owners plan things out and think about how their new pet will do in their home before they go to pick them out. Others are impulse buyers or find a stray that they would like to take home and care for, before thinking about everything involved. Whichever category that you may fit into, it is important to realize how important it is to introduce a new dog to those pets that have been living with you for a while. However, there is a proper way to introduce your new dog to the existing pet family with a smooth transition.

When picking out a puppy you should talk things over with the breeder or trainer about what kind of puppy would fit well in your home. For example, it may not suit your lifestyle to pick the most dominant or alpha puppy from the litter, and depending on your current animals it may not be good to pick the most submissive puppy from the litter. If you choose to adopt a dog (adult or puppy) from a shelter or rescue, ask them how social the dog is and what their opinion would be for the dog to live in your household, they should know the dog’s temperament. Although shelters want to adopt these dogs out and save lives, it does them nor you any good if it is not the right fit for your family or the dog.

If your current dog has been socialized and plays well with others you should have no problem at all introducing a new pet into your home. No matter if it’s a puppy or an adult dog you want to take things slow and gentle, don’t pressure either dog to make friends right away. They may not even play together for several days upon the new arrival, but as long as they are not aggressive or hostile towards each other, everything should smooth right over. Also, if you are just not sure how your dog will respond to the new dog, many of the shelters will let you bring your dog to neutral territory to meet the new candidate to see how they do. I stress it is very important that the territory be neutral upon the first meeting. Also it is very important that you not favor the new dog over the other dog that has been at your home the longest; after all they do have seniority.

If you have a cat in your home, you must also take them into consideration when finding that perfect pet. If you adopt a puppy it is much easier to mold them into having a good relationship with your cat. If you are adopting a pet, again ask the shelter or rescue group about the dog’s temperament, it may be that these dogs have been housed around cats already. Don’t rush this relationship they may wind up being best buddies, or the cat may just stay out of the dogs way, which would be fine as well.

Just remember to be patient when introducing your new dog to new animals of any size or gender. Don’t set them up for failure in the very beginning. Keep them on a leash when introducing them to farm animals, or keep your pocket-sized friends in a protective cage or container upon introduction.