Introducing new dog to existing one?

[FaaarkinEll]

Hello wise ones! I have a 2.5 year old small mixed breed rescue dog from abroad. Ive had her about 18 months and she's great with other dogs out and about and also visiting dogs in our home. Loves playing with them and doesn't show any signs of aggression.

Our new foreign rescue is arriving mid November. I know he will be traumatised by his journey, tired, scared, overwhelmed. I'm not sure how exactly to handle the very first introductions to our existing dog. If I were taking her to meet a friends dog for the first time I might take them for a walk together but as a newly arrived dog he's a flight risk so not an option to go for a stroll. He is a 4.5 month old puppy. My initial thought is to let them meet on leads in our small garden and get a play pen to keep them separated in the house for the first few hours/days and alternate which of them is in there, or use it to divide the room. He will have a crate for the first few weeks until he's house trained.

Any tips on the initial introduction and the first few days? He is apparently a confident pup, been raised from puppyhood by his mum in a foster home so nothing bad has happened to him and he's been socialised etc but the girl dog took weeks and weeks to settle in. We are prepared for the issues that come with a foreign rescue when dealing with one dog but chuck an existing dog into the mix and I'm having a wobble - very important to get this bit right!

Don’t worry about it and give them lots of time. Quite a few of my dogs have disliked/been jealous of new dogs for ages, but have ended up best friends eventually.

Exercise is important- if you can get them having fun/playing together that helps. Make a fuss of both regularly. Give them space between their sleeping areas, and gradually move them nearer over a few weeks. They’ll be fine eventually. It just needs time.

We are in the same position as you. Have a resident rescue bulldog and are adopting another bulldog from Hungary. He's arriving on the 6th. We are all very excited but I am more pragmatic. I know the days/weeks ahead will be hard. He has a long journey to come and will prob be shell shocked and traumatised.
All know about him is that's he's young and our Winnie is also young and very confident so I'm hoping they click and she shows him the ropes.
These dogs that are coming are all outside dogs so that will be hard work for me.
The one thing I was told was to buy him the cheapest food I can get as our normal food will be too rich for him and could make him sick. Also to get him washed asap, mainly cos he will be stinky but also as he will be traumatised anyway it's best to get this out of the way.
I feel so sorry for him having to make this journey but hope that he will soon forget his old life.
Good luck with your new fur baby, let's keep in touch xx

And yes I was also told to do the introductions in the garden but off lead and let them crack on basically. The garden is secure.
Our resident dog came out of a flat with 11 other dogs and he is used to living with other dogs too so praying they get on!!
My only concern is that she is a very fast eater prob because she has always had to compete for food and he will prob be the same. Don't want to feed them in separate rooms but that might have to happen so they don't clash over food
Pic of our little Winnie pig

Wow, we are also in a similar position. Our current dog wasn’t a foreign rescue but like yours she’s young and well socialised, super energetic and playful due to her breed mix. We are also expecting a rescue puppy in the next couple of weeks from abroad (although it’s through a uk breed specific rescue), has been brought up in a foster and hasn’t lived on the streets which is fortunate. I think we will see how he is when he arrives and try a walk around the garden with both on lead, otherwise we’ve set up a puppy pen etc and the old baby gate is back up so we can manage their interactions so they can have space if needed. Ours will think it is Xmas I think when he arrives 😂 I think over the weekend we well just take it easy and see how it goes. We’ve got new toys for both and treats for rewarding both for being calm around each other. When we’ve had dogs come to visit we’ve always done a big walk first and then home like you but it doesn’t seem the thing to do here.

We all just need to take it slowly. Our charity have said he could either be completely shut down or be super confident. They also said don't feel sorry for him and let him get away with naughty behaviour. Be tough straight away or they will take the piss!!!

No experience of this myself, but The Dog Training Advice and Support group on Facebook has lots of great resources and information about introducing a new dog into the household. You don't have to post anything if you don't want to, just read all the units for free and post if you need help from the trainers.

@QueenOfToast yes I have read a very good article on that Facebook group about rescues