Introducing our dog to another dog we are hoping to rehome.

[carrotsandcelery]

We are going to visit a dog tomorrow which we are hoping to rehome.

We are taking our own dog with us to see how they get on.

We are meeting at the dog's current home and thinking of taking a short walk together with the dogs.

If that goes well they will bring the dog to our house to see how they get on here.

Does that sound a reasonable plan? I am conscious that we are not on truely neutral territory.

Would it be better to leave my dog in the car and go in and meet the possible new dog and then to walk together on neutral territory?

We would welcome any advice you might have about doing this.

I think, though no expert, that it depends on your dog and the home or rescue. If the meeting is in a noisy area it seems stressful although if there is a good off lead field type space then they are better. If it is a house and personal rehome then meet locally but not at the house.

I like to walk them on lead in parallel with no direct contact so they get used to each other slowly. Then get them to meet slowly... Off lead in a safe space like a tennis court or fenced field then home and left to get on.

Where are you adopting from? That's quite an odd way to go about it. You'd normally meet at the rescue and go for a walk, although I live near a park so any new fosters we get are met in the park and just so happen to follow us home

I'd meet on neutral turf and would be extremely wary of adopting a dog from anywhere other than a reputable rescue.

Thanks readyveg. I think there is a field nearby. I might suggest that I walk up to it and meet the dog there to begin with.

I agree to first meet in an open space, take treats with you so your dog associates new dog with good stuff (take extra nice ones). It depends alot if either dog has problems/agression with other dogs. Perhaps make sure your dog (both dogs) have had a bit of a walk first to get rid of excess energy.

When dog comes to you - also suggest initial contact in garden if poss. The first meeting may tell you if one dog is more dominant.

If you take in the dog, do usual things like feed them in separate areas, give them different dog beds. I would consider putting a child gate up and separating them at intervals in first few days.

All of the rescues I am involved with usually bring both adopter and dog to a neutral space, such as a park. An onlead walk will give you a reasonable idea - if they really hate each other this will be apparent very early on. The only exceptions I've seen for this are when people are in very remote geographical locations so one party may have to travel (recollects delivering a grund to the wilds of Ceredigion for a foster meet). A dog on their home patch will behave a bit differently to one that is out and about. Are you adopting through a rescue or privately rehoming?

If a neutral walk goes well, you can then consider a meeting on home turf. Then just proceed gently, and expect a few grumbles over the first few days as everyone settles down. If you already have a dog, it's often easier to introduce a bitch. She will be the boss, which both will be very happy with. However, we've brought in greyhound sleepover pals and fosters of both sexes with ours and these have worked well.

Thank you everyone for your advice. It is a private rehome but we have many mutual friends and no one has expressed a concern. I think the current owners seem just as worried about us being up to scratch for their dog. They don't want to rehome but have little choice.

We have a neutered and submissive male. The new dog is a neutered elderly female.

I would introduce in the garden or other open space, both dogs on long leads - keep the leads loose, stand back and don't talk or fuss, let them get on with sniffing each other etc. If all goes well you can drop the leads (though keep them attached IYSWIM so you can grab if needed!).

Don't panic if there's a bit of growling etc initially, it doesn't mean they want to kill each other, they're just sorting things out between themselves.

I agree neutral ground is good for the first meeting if possible (the field sounds like a great idea). Though we introduced ours at the home where the new dog was being fostered and it was fine - but to be fair he was not very 'territorial' and hadn't been there long.

I really appreciate all the advice here. I so hope it goes well as the "new" dog is an old, old girl and not many people want to take her on because of her age.

Sounds like you'll not have too many problems there...

Hope your oldies settles in, I rescued an old boy once and he was the sweetest thing.

Well, it sort of went ok. The "new" dog is lovely and very friendly and easy going.

My dog was about as tricky as he can ever be. I phoned the man who looks after him when we are out (local dog walker) who said he is always like this when he meets a new dog and he gets over it quickly.

We are borrowing the new dog tomorrow for a walk and to give them some more time to get used to each other.

Fingers crossed.

Thanks again to everyone for the advice.

When introducing dogs for the first time walk with both dogs on lead parallel to each other do not let there be face to face contact or sniffing to start with. Just walk.

After about 15 mins stand still and chat to other owner but again do not have dogs face to face. If both dogs are calm then you can let them be introduced together. A literally very brief interaction and then move on - you can then look at the body language and decide the next step.
It may be to quietly let them off lead, it may be more walking on lead.

Signs of stress are ears back, yawning, tail low or high depending on breed, looking away, sniffing etc. If I noticed these signs I would continue to parallel walk.

Thanks minimuu. I will try that approach tomorrow. That is exactly what my dog walker friend was suggesting too. Sounds like the way to go.

If it helps, my younger dog has been a bit 'funny' with pretty much every dog he knows, when meeting them for the first time - including the oldie he now lives happily with, and various doggy 'friends' we walk with regularly. It just takes him a bit of time to get used to a new dog, but he gets there in the end, as long as the other dog is friendly. Sounds like your boy might be similar!

Ephiny that sounds exactly like our dog. He gets there in the end but needs a wee bit of time to come round. Thank you for the support. We really want to give this old girl a happy final few years.

He is a rescue dog and has a grim history but is doing brilliantly now - the man who helps walk him has made a huge difference to his social skills as he is walking loads of dogs at a time and is really sensitive to all their needs.

From how he behaves at his house, we know he would like a friend - he is just a bit shy!

I looked after someone's puppy for 2 days whilst they were in hospital. It was a really, really sweet little Yorkie that I would have loved to have kept.

But my own dog was very interesting and it showed me that my dog is an "only" dog. The "new" dog was a tenth of his size and it is my dog's house. Within a day my dog was unhappy and dominated by this tiny scrap.

I could just see in my dog's eyes, "hold on, I thought this was my gaff and you were my peeps".

She is here just now and things seem to be going ok. We walked them on the lead this morning and they walked side by side, actually touching shoulders without a fuss.

My dog is tolerating her being here, rather than loving it tbh but hopefully he will get over that. He has rumbled at her a couple of times but we have ticked him off curtly every time he has and he has stopped instantly.

She ate from his bowl and he didn't do anything.

We are giving him lots of reassuring pats when he is behaving nicely.

I wouldn't say they are in love with each other but they seem able to cope with each other.

Is it likely to improve?

Usually it gets better and better. We have moved from loathing to loving so yours must be a good start. Have fun.

Thanks readyveg. I am really excited but also nervous. I want both dogs to be happy.

Bet they will be. I think most dogs and bitches will rub along happily. Mine would appear to wind eaCh other up whilst looking disdainfully at each other but separate them and they pine and get all giddy when reunited. They definitely enjoy walks together more. Just added a third into the mix and the 2 bitches thing is trickier!

That sounds tricky readyveg.

Can I ask, what do you do when you go out?

I will be scared to leave ours incase there is a "dispute".

I reckon disputes are usually related to food, toys or beds so leave no food or toys out and plenty of bed space. TBH if your newbie has already eaten out of your boy's bowl and that didn't cause a problem then it is sounding very calm. Plus the mix you have of two generally OK dogs, one an older bitch is really unlikely to cause problems.

Sounds like how ours were to begin with, there was a bit of tension and growling at first, but things settled down a lot after a few days. It's a bit of a stressful and confusing time for both dogs really, if you think of it from their point of view!

We did feed them separately, and put away toys to start with, also beds in separate rooms so they could get away from each other if they wanted some space.

Depends on the layout of your house, but can you separate them when you go out if you're worried, maybe use a stairgate? You might find they're happier together though, especially once they get used to each other.

I can separate them as I can shut our current dog in the lounge. The door opens into the lounge so he can't open it when he is in it. It is his favourite place to be so as long as I put water in he will be fine.

I have arranged for our local dog walker to take him out on Monday morning as we have a hospital appt we can't miss and on Tues (when he normally comes anyway) I will do my big food shop.

A stairgate is a good idea as they will still be able to see each other but wouldn't be able to hurt each other.

She is not bothered at all, it is our dog who feels insecure about it all.

It is very stressful when you see if from their point of view - you can see why it takes a little while.

I have asked her current owners to bring her bed so she has a bit of territory which she knows is her own. She also needs medicine in her food so will need to be fed separately.

Thank you all for your reassurance and support. We are desperate to the right thing by both of them. It's not easy but hopefully will be good in the longer run.

Sounds like our two rescues, who came with about two months in between them. The incoming dog was all for stepping into the other dogs bed and cuddling up - first dog would have none of it! They tolerated each other for a few months, and its only these last few weeks that they actively search each other out for company. The turning point for us was when we took the established dog to training classes - she became much more relaxed after that, and is like a new dog. Happy friends now.

How is it going c and c? Hope they are bonding.