Introducing a new dog

Felexicon

Hi Folks

We have a 6 year old Pom X and have recently been thinking of getting a second dog.
We got our dog as a puppy so would like to go down the rescue route this time around.
We're thinking of a dog of similar age, size etc.
Has anyone here any experience in introducing a new dog to the home in similar circumstances and if so what should I be looking out for?

All advice welcome

aonb

Is your dog pretty sociable? Neutered?
If you are going to rescue, it would be a very good idea, to introduce your dog to the potential new dog before any decisions are made. I work with a rescue, and this would be very acceptable. You could take the two dogs for a walk together, to see how they react to each other. I would take the potential new dog for a walk with my dog several times, to be sure they will get on - in so far as you can tell on these brief visits. I would also ask if I could take the potential new dog home for a visit or two.

If your dog is well socialised, you will be able to tell if your dog will be ok with the new dog, even from these short visits.

No new dog, especially a rescue, is going to settle in to a new home, new people, new dog, quickly. It will take lots of patience, gentleness and loving care.

Typically a dog/bitch mix is good. Bitch/bitch mixes can be problematic. The rescue dog will be neutered of course, but whether your dog is neutered or not might be a consideration when choosing your new dog. Remember your dog is in his place, the new dog will be worried/nervous/stressed, so do take that into consideration when organising visits, or when the new dog comes home.

Good luck - let us know how you get on! There are so many great dogs in shelters, its great to give one a loving home.

sibleykins

There is only one major advice, take the both dogs for a nice, long and exhausting walk before bringing them both home - a walk will help them bond and if they are tired enough they will less likely to get territorial/ stressed, and hopefully when they are exhausted enough they will cuddle up to each other and rest.
Walks will also help you bond with a new member and build up trust gradually. I dont have much experience with rescues, but trust building is usually best whilst walking.

Felexicon

Cheers for the advice guys.

We picked a dog we wanted and on Saturday I brought our dog up to meet him. They had a little sniff, no growling or barking and then we went for a short walk together. They pretty much ignored each other apart from making sure they each peed on the same spot about 5 times.
Going to give it a shot and am collecting the new guy on Friday.
Not taking anything for granted as the meeting on Saturday was on neutral ground but I'll still take it as a positive.

sillysmiles

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

I would definitely take them both for a long walk when you pick up the new dog on Friday so that they can be both wrecked by the time they get back to the house.

Also, I'm sure that any of the people here who work with rescue would be able to give more information, but as far as I know, rescue dogs often don't relax and you see their true personality for a few weeks after coming home.

aonb

good news - hope he settles in very quickly.
Make sure to feed the 2 dogs seperately initially so that you can be sure there is no issue there
Dont let them sleep together in the same room on the first few nights - until you know there are no issues
Lots of walks together, and lots of supervised time together over the weekend, will help the settling process.
Wish you the very best of luck, and hope it goes really well - post a picture of the two of them