INTRODUCING THE NEW PUPPY TO YOUR NEW FAMILY
INTRODUCING THE NEW PUPPY TO YOUR FAMILY
One of the most sensitive issues for a dog owner is the arrival of another dog or puppy into the family.
A dog that has had the home and family all to himself cannot overnight welcome another dog into his den, and may feel very uncomfortable having to share the attention of its family. The first meeting is important, so you should prepare yourself to improve its chances of success so that those first days do not turn into a nightmare.
The beginning
Introducing the rest of the family can be a lengthy process, even though your dog is already familiar with you, and you should take care to ensure that this is a calm and friendly situation for your puppy.
PRESENTING YOUR DOG TO FAMILY MEMBERS
With various breeds and the setting in which it was raised, the way your puppy responds to new people will vary.
To make the presentation as stress-free as possible, you should follow a few easy steps:
Introduce new individuals one at a time: it can be daunting for a puppy to encounter several new people at once, so give it a chance to get used to one person at a time and it will feel more comfortable.
Let your puppy approach: family members should sit quietly and let the puppy approach them first instead of approaching your puppy too quickly or moving it between people, which might alarm it.
Talk calmly: ensure that members of your family keep feelings under control and use a calm tone to create a peaceful, non-threatening atmosphere that will make your puppy feel more relaxed.
Introducing the puppy to the children: To ensure the well-being of your puppy, it is important that your children are aware that they should be very careful with the new puppy.
They should also be taught to give the puppies space to relax and sleep when they need it and not to disturb them while they are resting.
MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW PUPPY
Try not to have them in a space that is the favorite of the older dog when you have the first meeting at home, and always use a leash until you know it is safe.
It is best to reorganize the house and create a new room for your puppy before the presentation at home.
UNDERSTANDING THE OLDER DOG
Its probably not as excited as you are about the new puppy, plus older dogs are calmer than a puppy and have less energy.
Don’t push it to play or share too much, let it go at its own pace, and the most important thing is that the puppy is welcomed and you all live in peace together.
Although we have spoken about “older dog” and “puppy” this really applies to every presentation between dogs, as the key is to show them in a natural way, and it doesn’t seem invasive.
Your puppy is sure to become good friends with its new family with patience, love and perseverance!
In the dog training world there is what is called, “The Rule of 3’s” –
3 Days, 3 Weeks, 3 Months
3 days to decompress
3 weeks to start to know your routine
3 months to start to feel at home
Go slow, take your time and within no time, your new pup will be a fully integrated member of your family! Woof Woo!
