Introducing new dog

[KeebabSpider]

We have adopted a four year old dog from the same rescue as our existing dog. Both dogs are 4 years old, and our Boston staff x is a boy. The new dog is a staff x bitch. So far so good with introduction outside, lots of side by side walking, sitting together outside, all whilst on lead.

I'm not sure how to manage the at home socialising. At the moment I have a baby gate separating them, separate food times and very few toys as the new dog has shown she will probably resource guard. She has no recall, so offlead playing outside can't happen just yet. We have a shared garden but due to move in five weeks to a bigger house with fully enclosed garden. We have a long line lead.

But, here's my question, am I doing the right thing separating them inside the house? when will I know its safe to let them play together inside? or do I need to get the them playing outside first? The new dog is more boisterous and playful, the existing dog is more calm and he has manners. But he enforces those manners on his group walks. He goes with a dog walker and her feedback has been that he growls and pushes away with his paws dogs that jump over him, new dogs, and dogs without manners, then he will happily play and chase. He doesn't like rough and tumble.

Has anyone got any tips please, really want them to get off to a good start.

Not sure if we’ve just been lucky but always owned dogs and cats, had various other dogs / cats come to stay with people or as fosters and honestly never done any of this!
I introduce them, make sure feeding is separate or managed so no resource guarding. Make sure all have 121 time, and everyone is very happy and chilled :)

I’d carry on feeding separately and only letting them have toys alone - but I’d give them a mix of separate and together time tbh…. Just play it by ear a bit.

I'm no expert but I wouldn't separate them unless they were eating or playing with toys. Obviously give them option to be apart if they want, but I don't see the benefit in keeping them apart otherwise?

Thank you. So far today they have both been out on separate long walks and been in the garden. As the first dd goes out on a group walk. I'll take them both out together this afternoon and just let them in the house together and give both free reign see how it goes. I'm a bit nervous.

You might get a few arguments if she’s boisterous and he’s not, if he tells her to stop and she doesn’t then he might escalate… but that’d be normal.

If you get anything you’re not happy with, re arguing, separate them, give them a bit of chill out time away from each other and then go again.

Watch for things that could cause issues, so obviously, toys, food, but also attention from humans or highly exciting situations, someone coming in, any games etc.

Given they’ve met already and done stuff side by side - chances are it’ll be fairly easy to settle her in with him with no drama tbh, but just so you’re aware that a bit of an argument is fine and within normal in the early days and as long as they’re not actually injuring each other then it’s usually over with fairly quickly.

I foster so I have to do this a lot.

I always introduce mine outside first (neutral ground) then in the garden on leads and then in the house. Usually keep them separate for a few weeks tbh until I am 100% sure of the new dogs temperament. Dogs hide a lot of themselves when in a new environment - don’t forget it takes 3 months for them to settle into a new home so all the personality traits you’re seeing atm might not necessarily be the ‘real them.’

But ultimately it’s a case of when you think you’re ready. I, personally, am extra cautious as I have a big dog (retriever) and two little dogs (cockers) in my home already. And two uncastrated males - which changes dynamics a lot. I don’t let them eat together (ever) or share toys (only my ‘own’ dogs play with toys together).

Remember; dog fights sound very vicious (even a bitch telling off her pups scares people even though there’s no real feeling in it). So if it does happen, unless one is seriously injured, don’t worry too much.

Thank you everyone. They have been playing outside and walking side by side. The new dog looks to dd for reassurance a lot. Each time after the walk we've now progressed to walking in the house together, having some free reign together and now laying on the rug together. But this seems to be short lived. The new dog keeps licking dd on the nose, he doesn't seem to like this much. He has put her in her place when she's being too bouncy too. She keeps jumping up at DH, and at one point dd growled and jumped up pushing her away. It seems he is policing boundaries but not being aggressive. So all good so far.