Bringing a New Dog into a Home With Existing Pets

 Health Issues

Your very first action after officially adopting a new puppy or dog - before you take him or her home - should be to stop by your vet's office for a thorough examination. If you have other pets at home, you don't want to inadvertently expose them to a communicable illness. If the vet even suspects something contagious, like parvovirus or distemper, leave the animal there for treatment - don't take him home yet!

It's even a good idea in such cases to clean your exposed body parts with a bleach water mix to kill latent viruses and germs before you enter your home. Try to avoid direct contact with any pets. Immediately head to the laundry room and put your clothing in the washer with lots of detergent and hot water. If you ruin something, that's certainly better than exposing your pets to a disease!

Vaccinations

Your vet will, of course, know which vaccinations are required in your city and state. Most vets will administer inoculations in bundles (known as DHLP-P) to save time and expense. The injection includes vaccinations against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Rabies vaccine is given separately and is mandatory in virtually every locale.

If you have other pets at home, vaccinations are absolutely critical for any new dogs you add to the domestic mix. Get them done - and stay on schedule!

Pack Hierarchy Issues

Any time you bring a new pet into your home with existing dogs, there is potential for fights as the hierarchy of the 'pack' is thrown into temporary disarray. It's often impossible to tell whether a new dog will be an alpha or not, especially when it's a puppy. However, puppies are much easier to condition to a lesser status within your home's pack, even if their natural tendency is toward dominance. Remember, even two dogs will often be driven to attempt to form a pack with a dominant-subordinate relationship.

Let the dogs work it out, unless open aggression erupts. Then, you might try bringing in a professional trainer or, if possible, separate fighting dogs by partitioning them in certain parts of your home. Caution: never attempt to physically separate fighting dogs with your hands or feet! Instead, spray or pour a copious amount of cold water on them. The cold and wetness will serve to startle them, which usually defuses the situation without you ending up with stitches.

There is, unfortunately, not much you can do to predict which animals will be dominant. Some breeds are more likely to have individuals that will assert themselves in the pack (German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Pit Bulls), but even there, you get a wide range of characteristics. So, plan for any contingency, including returning the new dog or finding a better home if it causes serious disruptions that are not naturally resolved within a few days.

Feeding Routines

If you've only had one dog in your home previously, an issue that can be a source of potential problems when you add a new one is feeding time. You don't have to think about it with just one pet, but when you have two or more animals trying to eat in one space - especially a confined area - watch out! Early on, make sure you remain close by in case a fight breaks out. Even dogs that have always been docile and friendly can quickly turn on companion animals when food is in the mix.

If possible, segregate your pets so they can eat without any contact with the other(s). Not only will this eliminate the potential for aggression, but it may prevent other disasters as well. Dogs that eat in groups tend to gulp without properly chewing their food. This can lead to choking and a condition called 'bloat' that can be life threatening.

Don't Ignore Your First Dog!

When you bring in a new pet, it's easy to start ignoring your existing dog(s). You're not a bad person! It's a natural tendency. However, you should anticipate it and work hard to catch yourself doting on the new dog at the other's expense. Dogs are very tied in to our feelings and actions. More than most owners ever realize. You will send the wrong "vibe" to your older pets if you change how much time and attention you give them. To keep everyone happy, spend quality time with them all and don't play favorites - even when the new pet is really 'new.'

© John Schwartz http://www.puppies-dogs-supplies.com (all rights reserved)

About the author:

John Schwartz is a freelance writer and website publisher. He is the owner of a popular website about safe dog toys and other pet supplies - http://www.puppies-dogs-supplies.com - and he works to rescue and place stray dogs.

 John Schwartz

More Articles 

Tips For Keeping Pets - Jonathon Hardcastle
Animals unlike humans cannot express their feelings and they cannot go on making demands and tell their owners when they need food. They are animals. Pet keepers bring home fish, cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters and birds home all the time eagerly but...

When Pets Lose Their Pet Pals -- Do They Grieve Too? - Bruce Dinger
Oh, so you think your pet isn't human? You think humans are the only ones that can feel the loss of a loved one? While we obviously don't know for sure - think about it. If pets eat like we do, sleep like we do, have the same body make up (within)...

Are Your Pets Covered By Health Insurance? - Elizabeth Newberry
When you think about purchasing health insurance, you probably only think about your children, your spouse, and yourself. You either buy into the health insurance package offered by your employer or your spouse’s employer, or you seek an individual...

Are Pets Intelligent Enough to Understand Us? - Vivian Gilbert Zabel
Whether or not animals are "smart" or just react according to instinct has been debated for many years. A German shepherd grabs the back of a three-year-old's pants as she tries to climb over the backyard fence: Is that herding "instinct" or...

Parrots For Pets - Nancy Richards
I have had many pets in my life but parrots for pets are my all-time favorites. This is primarily because most parrots have long lives. Moreover, parrots are one of the best pets in the world. As pets, parrots provide a lot of entertainment and they...

Treating Pets with Ear Medications - Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital
To treat your pet's ears with medication, try to following steps: Tilt the animal's head so the ear to be treated is 'up.' (If your pet's ear flap hangs down, lift it as you are tilting the head.) Medicated ointment: Place a small...

Tips on Moving with Pets - Kyle Thomas Haley
If you're a pet owner and are planning to move to a new home, remember that moving can be even more stressful for your animals than it is for you. But there are several things you can do to make it easier on your dog or cat. Start your...

Chameleons As Pets - William Wright
Chameleons are appealing in appearance and their mystical ways of changing colors are fascinating. Keeping chameleon as pets could be difficult as compared to other pets as they are not very friendly and they need a lot of extra care. But if you are...

Pneumonia in Pets - Alfred M Legendre DVM
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs. It is rare in cats and less common in dogs than in people. There are many types of pneumonia, with bacterial and fungal infections being the most common. The dog's lungs are not very susceptible to...

ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM IN PETS - John Burns BVMS MRCVS
ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Arthritis means inflammation/ pain of the joints Rheumatism means pain associated with joints and muscles The two are linked because muscles attach to the bones at or near the joints. When a muscle is tensed it...

Seizures in Pets - Michael Podell DVM
The diagnosis and treatment of seizure disorders in small animals are similar in many respects to the diagnosis and treatment of other ailments: a historical problem arises, a therapy is started to treat the underlying disease and/or signs of...

Treating Pets with Eye Medications - Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital
To treat your pet's eyes with medication, try to following steps: Gently tilt the head back so the eyes are looking at the ceiling. Medicated Ointment: Roll the lower eyelid out, forming a 'pocket', and place a small amount of...