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Introducing a New Puppy to Other Pets

If you are already the proud owner of a dog, cat, or other pet, and you come across an adorable puppy that you just can't say no to, it can be hard to know how to introduce him to the other animals in your home. Whether your puppy is a shelter rescued pet, or a purchased purebred, you can use the steps below to help your new puppy become comfortable with his new roommates.

Check the Puppy's Health

Before you bring your new puppy home, take him past the vet's surgery, and have a full examination done on him. Make sure that all of his vaccinations are current, and that there aren't any contagious skin problems or fleas that could infect your other pets. Have the puppy de-wormed, and treated for fleas to minimize the risk to your current animals.

Don't forget to take out a pet insurance policy to protect you both against the possibility of illness or injury.

Slowly Introduce Him

Puppies should be introduced into the home very slowly. If you try to force a puppy onto the other pets too quickly, then they may forever shun it. If you have more than one pet already at home, the new puppy should be introduced to one at a time.

Let the new puppy and other pet do whatever they want to get used to each other. This may include sniffing, tail wagging, or even growling and light nipping by the older pet. Supervise them loosely, and intervene only if severe fighting is going on. Do not punish an older dog for growling at the new puppy, or they will associate the new dog with an unhappy experience.

Reassure all of your pets that they are equally loved. Do not ignore older pets while you try to welcome the new puppy, or they will begin to feel neglected. Do not ever leave your puppy unsupervised with the older pets until they are all familiar and used to one another.

Try to spend 10 or 15 minutes a day alone with each of your pets so that they all feel that they are getting your undivided attention, and there will be no jealousy in the home. Try to engage them in games with each other, but use new toys to avoid any protectiveness over new ones.

"Puppy-Proof" Your home

While your puppy is being introduced to the rest of the pets in your home, it may be necessary to keep them in a separate room by themselves. They may also begin to urinate around the home, even if they were previously house trained.

Tidy-up electrical cords, make sure the puppy has plenty of toys in his room, and provide food, water, and a pad for toileting if necessary. At night, keeping a new puppy in a crate may be an effective way of helping them become re-acquainted with house training.

Be Patient