Adding another dog

[DuoDoggo]

Soon we will be adding a second dog to our house. Our current dog is 3 and loves other dogs and has very good dog manners. Any tips for making this addition a success? Do we really need to walk them separately at first?

We have only ever introduced new puppies and always do it on neutral ground. I'd do the same with an adult dog, to let them make friends before going home.

I don't know about separate walks - we've always walked visiting dogs with ours.

I think new dogs should be kept separate for a good week or so - very gradual introductions. I foster and it’s how I’ve always done it. Separate rooms. Fed separately. Walked separately. This is also for your existing dogs benefit - a new adult dog moving in should be done to ensure the comfort of your existing dog.

Remember; just because your dog likes other dogs it doesn’t mean it’ll like a new dog permanently in its house. What sex are they?

I introduce outside with plenty of space. They are supervised together for a long while and both dogs have access to areas without the other dog.

Always feed separately and sleep separately.

I do always walk them separately as I want a strong connection with the puppy and want walks and socialising, training for the puppy 121 for at least 6 months often longer.

Also I want 121 time with original dog and walking them alone gives them this.

This is good advice.

The second dog is a puppy who will be 4 months old. I thought they'd rather enjoy sleeping together? They are male/female.

They might enjoy it. Eventually.
But don’t impose it on your existing dog from the off.

We’ve had a long succession of rescue dogs, some young some old, over the years and we always introduce them on neutral ground and spend time together before coming home. We also go straight in to the garden with them when they do come home and spend quite a bit of time there before allowing the new dog to explore inside. And they always had their own, separate space over night. Once they had clearly settled down together, sometimes this can be months, we allowed them to choose where they slept. Sometimes they would snuggle up together, sometimes they would choose not to. It’s just taken a friend a whole year before her existing dog wholeheartedly accepted the new puppy. Puppies can be annoying to older dogs quite frankly. Also as PP said, don’t assume just because your dog likes other dogs outside that he will like one equally as much in his own territory.

You definitely should not leave them together at night straight away - it could go horribly wrong. They need to be in separate crates or separate rooms.

Please do introduce them carefully. It's really not like social media where you can waltz in with puppy in a basket and the existing dog loves them. In a worst case scenario, you may have to keep them separate for months.

I agree, keep them separate for the first few weeks.
Basically play it by ear!
Your dog might like the puppy straight away or needs time to adjust.

Play it by ear: I've had a dog fall in love with a puppy on first meeting and take over as surrogate parent, protector, pillow and playmate from Day One. I've never had anything worse than, 'Well, I'm not 100% keen on you, eff off and let me sleep.'

If it's a puppy you're walking, I do a bit of both, walks apart and walks together. In retrospect, I wish I'd done a few more separate walks with the most recent puppy, as it would have built her confidence a bit more.

They need to be introduced on neutral ground and kept separate unless you're right there to supervise (for at least a week or two, if not longer).

Please make sure your older dog is still treated the same as he is now - so, the same walks, same routine, same place to sleep etc. Don't force the new puppy onto him - let them take their time. While many dogs are good with others on walks etc, that doesn't always translate to being good with a new puppy in their space 24-7, so do be prepared for an adjustment period.

I'd say play it by ear, but prepare for the long haul.

We've added rescue puppies to the existing dog(s) at 4, 5 and 18 months and they've been together immediately with no need to keep separate. They were introduced at the rescue initially, and then at home in the garden.

Maybe we've been lucky, but we are at 4 dogs with no issues introducing them. The female (dog 2) had a few grumbles when 3 and 4 arrived, but all taken in their stride generally. Fed together and have the full run of the house so can sleep together or apart to suit their mood or preference.

Puppy will be in a crate until he's sensible at night. Older dog will be free as usually. We've had plenty of dog guests and she's never been aggressive.