There are few things more rewarding than being a pet owner. People who have a positive experience with their first dog tend to want more furry family members around. While having multiple dogs is challenging, it can also be a fun and enjoyable experience.
Approximately 15% of Americans own more than one dog. If you have a dog already in your household, bringing a new dog into the fold can be difficult. The last thing you want to do is stress out your existing dog with the addition of a new pet.
This is why you need to make a plan of action to make this transition easier for your existing dog. Read below for some helpful tips on how to bring a new dog into your pet-friendly household.
Do Your Homework Before Choosing a New Dog
Selecting a new dog to bring into your household isn’t easy. With all of the different dog breeds, selecting the best one for your home will take time. As you start to research the various dog breeds at your disposal, you need to consider the temperament of each one. Ideally, you want to choose a dog that is similar in breed to your existing pet.
Making sure the dogs in your home have a similar temperament can help you avoid problems in the long run. You also need to make sure the energy levels of your new puppy match your existing dog.
Don’t Forget To Separate the New Dog
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when adding a new dog to your pet-friendly household is failing to create a sense of separation. You need to use a drip-like process when introducing a new dog to your existing pet. Trying to throw them into the mix too early can lead to lots of fights taking place.
This is why you need to make sure your new dog has a separate space to live in for a while. You also need to avoid feeding your dogs in the same area until they get friendly. As time goes by, you can slowly start to let your dogs spend time together. By taking this process slowly, you can help your dogs create an unshakable bond without overwhelming either or them.
Crates and Gates Are Essential
When trying to keep a new dog and your existing dog separated, you need the right equipment. If you don’t already have pet crates and gates, it is time to get some. The gates allow you to section off portions of your home while maintaining visibility of your pets. Once your pets start to see each other through these gates, you can get an idea of how they are going to act. If you see that your dogs are getting aggressive when noticing one another, then you need to be careful about putting them in the same room together.
Implementing these tips will allow you to avoid problems as you bring a new pet into your household.