Bringing a new puppy home is so exciting! You and your family are making a big step by welcoming a new family member into the fold, and the honeymoon phase is in full bloom. Unfortunately, it’s also at this point where things can go off the rails. From the very beginning, it’s important to begin training and socializing the animal in order to avoid serious problems that could develop in the future.
When you first bring your dog home, it might appear that they are eagerly exploring their new home – running around joyfully and sniffing every room from corner to corner. However, what’s more likely is that they are nervously investigating a scary new environment. Remember, your puppy has very little experience outside of their initial home, their mother, and their brothers and sisters. Therefore, you should acclimate the dog slowly.
Move gradually from room to room (starting with the room where he will eat and drink), and allow the animal plenty of time to soak up all of the sights, smells, and feels of the space. Once they have had time to thoroughly investigate their new surroundings, you can move onto the next room. After they have had the chance to scope out every inch of the home, you can allow them to check out their new yard, the garage, etc.
Once your fur baby has the lay of the land, you can begin to introduce them to each member of the family (humans first, of course). You should each find a comfortable spot in a single room (preferably the living room), and stay seated while the dog approaches each family member. Obviously, everyone is excited to pet and play with the cute little puppy, but letting the dog come to you rather than you catering to the dog reinforces the fact that they are not the pack leader.
If you have any other dogs, these introductions will also need to be made carefully. In fact, their first meet and greet should take place outside of the home, preferably at a neutral area that neither dog is familiar with. This will avoid any undue risk of creating territory disputes. Your best bet is to take both animals for a nice long walk on an entirely new route. This will give the animals a chance to socialize, and it will also expel their energy so that they can focus on learning more about one another rather than attempting to create a dominant dynamic.
When you head out on your walk, you should have a friend or family member go with you. As the pack leader, you should be in the lead with your existing dog, and your companion should walk behind you with the new puppy. After a short time (maybe 2-3 blocks), you can allow your current dog to retreat so that the two new friends can sniff each other’s rears. This might sound weird, but it’s a vital component of their budding friendship. (You can read more about the rear-sniffing ritual here.)
Once pleasantries have been exchanged, you can continue the walk and repeat the ritual 2-3 times. After which, the two animals can walk calmly side by side. Once they seem at ease with one another and are in a relaxed state, you can bring the animals home. You should let your current dog in the home first so that he doesn’t feel threatened or protective of his space, and then let your new puppy in to join his new friend.
Most importantly, you should always show equal amounts of love and affection to every animal you bring in the home. As pack leaders, you and your family are the most important people in their lives, and if the animals feel slighted, they will likely act out by destroying furniture or going potty in the house. Make sure that everyone has plenty of treats and that they are treated the exact same way among all members of the family.
