Introducing a Second Pet to Your Home
Your beloved pets aren’t like us when it comes to meeting someone new. They aren’t able to come up to one another, shake hands and introduce themselves. When you bring a second pet into your home, you need to make sure that you’re going about it the right way so that your first pet and the new four-legged family member get along.
Sometimes it can be rather easy, while there might be a few times where you need to work harder to make a friendly atmosphere happen. These guidelines can help.
Are They Compatible?
When bringing home a new pet, especially a dog, you want to make sure that their personalities are compatible. If you have an older dog who is incredibly laid back, then bringing home a puppy or a young dog with a lot of energy might not be the best match. You also want to consider if your dog is more dominant or submissive, because having two dominant dogs could lead to issues with behavior.
It Takes Time
Don’t rush it! You don’t want to push two dogs or cats together or force them to like each other. This is something they have to do on their own while you monitor them. Pushing them together can lead to resistance on their part, and a delay in establishing a friendly relationship.
Praise Them!
You want your pets to associate one another with positivity. Every time they do something good with one another, even the smallest thing, they should be showered with praise and perhaps even given a reward.
Cats and Dogs, Living Together?
If you’re bringing a new dog into your home when you have a cat, you need to make sure that you’re proceeding with caution. Do not hold the cat when introducing the two. Lock the dog up so your cat can approach your new dog on its own.
If your situation is reversed, make sure that your dog doesn’t corner the new cat. These kinds of interactions need to be supervised to ensure that they get along.
Bringing in a new furry, four-legged family member can create some awkward moments like training accidents, chewing objects, or scratching furniture. Limit the amount of tension between your older pet and your new one by taking the necessary steps to ensure an easy transition to this new environment.