Introducing a New Puppy into a Home with an Existing Pet

It was November and I had spent 3 months searching for just the right puppy. Finally we had found what we considered to be the perfect one. Luckily she was already 7 weeks old so she could already be separated from her mother. I was so excited when we brought her home, our new addition to the family. I made sure I had all the required supplies; food and water dishes, food, a bed and a crate. We were ready. The fact that we already had a cat never really caused me much concern. I figured they would give each other a good sniff and surely it would not take long for them to become the best of friends and live happily ever after. I had visions of our little puppy all curled up with our cat in front of the fireplace.

Reality hit when I walked into our house carrying a crate with our newest family member inside. Our dog is a female so I will use she when referring to a dog. The cat seemed a little curious so in a moment of obvious brain freeze I took the puppy out of the crate to introduce the two. Our cat in a split second armed herself for battle. The hair was straight up making her look like I had just taken her out of the dryer and she started hissing and growling as if her opponent was a rottweiler rather than a puppy that could fit in my hand. The poor puppy could barely walk so she just fell into a ball and shivered and whimpered. I'm sure that as soon as we removed the dog and put her back in her crate, the cat went to her bed and stated plotting a way to have the new puppy just suddenly "disappear" like getting flushed down the toilet. She considered herself to be the queen of the household and it was obvious that there was going to be a battle for the crown. Boy had I called this meeting wrong! In an attempt to help you avoid a similar situation I'm going to outline a few pointers as to what you SHOULD do when you introduce your new puppy to your resident pet. This information comes from research done concerning raising a puppy, unfortunately the how to introduce guidelines would have been much more beneficial if found BEFORE the actual deed was done.

Firstly the introduction must be done slowly. If possible take a towel and rub the new puppy with it then bring it home and put it somewhere that your resident pet will frequent and be able to smell. This will also work if you take something that has the scent of your existing pet on it and put it in the carrier you bring your new puppy home in. When you first bring a new animal into your home she should stay quarantined from the other animals until it has seen the vet. Once she has seen the vet you will still need to keep her separate from the other animals. Allow the animals to smell the new puppy from under the door so they may become to each other. After a few days to a week you can try the introduction but make sure you are close in case you have to take on the roll of referee. If there is some growling or paw raising don't interfere unless of course you feel your puppy is in danger.

If your puppy is being crate trained you can put her back in the crate and continue to take her out for short intervals to spend time with the other animal. Make sure the amount of time you let them spend together is increased gradually. Most importantly never leave the two animals alone and be sure to flood the resident animal with love and attention so they feel secure in their place in the family. This will greatly reduce the risk of having the new puppy take a whirl in the toilet. If you want all animals to live in harmony you have to be patient and let the animals deal with each other in their own way and on their own time.

Cass Hope has been a writer for over 5 years. Cass regularly contributes to online and offline publications in a variety of areas. She also teaches classes in basic obedience for puppies. She is currently sponsoring this site: http://www.1st4dog-training.info

(for web reprints please ensure this URL is hyperlinked)

---

How Intelligent is Your Dog

It is entirely normal to look for signs of intelligence... Read More

You Can Help Reduce the Number of Unwanted Cats - Spaying and Neutering of Cats

Every year, hundreds of thousands of cats and kittens are... Read More

West Highland White Terrier - Picking the Right Breeder

Do you want a Westie as a pet? What are... Read More

Lyme Disease Treatment in Pets

Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, because the disease... Read More

Is A Premium Dog Food Really That Much Better For Your Dog?

==========The Scoop on Premium Dog Food========If you're interested in premium... Read More

New Puppies-The Cure For Insomnia-What You Can Do To Help You New Pupppy Adjust

Puppies have a natural instinct inside that causes them to... Read More

What You Should Never Feed Your Dog

Unfortunately, there are a number of household items which we... Read More

A Dog Day Care Franchise - Is It Really Worth It?

When you take into account that there are over 68,000,000... Read More

Too Many Cats?

Cats are becoming increasingly popular as pets these days, and... Read More

Pet Vitamin Supplements - Whether You Need One and How to Choose One

Vitamins Can Increase Your Dog's Life Span!There is evidence to... Read More

Five Cat Food Factors That Discourage Feline UTD

One of the most common causes of Feline Urinary Tract... Read More

Does Your Bichon Frise Eat His Own Poop?

Hi,I'm Janet CombsMy mother bred and raised Bichon Frises for... Read More

BARF Diet For Dogs - Not As Gross As It Sounds!

Are you just starting to research the BARF diet for... Read More

Dog Lover Gifts

Whether you are searching for something to say "Happy Birthday"... Read More

Caring For Your Pomeranians Teeth

Pomeranians have tiny mouths and itty bitty teeth, but not... Read More

No, No, No! Drop It, Drop It! Give It To Me Now!

Puppies can be so exasperating! They know what we want,... Read More

How To Stop Your Cat Scratching Your Furniture - Forever!

Your cat scratching at your furniture can not only leave... Read More

Make Your Home Cat-Safe - How To Keep Your Cat Happy and Healthy

* Lock things up that could cause harm* Keep the... Read More

Parachromis Managuense

Parachromis managuense has a bad reputation, just like many of... Read More

How To Know What Your Cat Wants When It Talks To You - Cat Communication Explained

Many people think cats are asocial, but in fact they... Read More

7 Simple Ways To Safe Guard Your Dog This Summer!

If you have a hard time in summer imagine how... Read More

Essential Oils and MRSA

Natural preventative pet care isn't a new thing but it... Read More

Finding A Reputable Dog Breeder

Anyone can put two dogs together and let them breed,... Read More

An Introduction to Dog Beds

Some people are so attached to their pets that they... Read More

Why Build Your Own Reptile Cage?

When I first started my interest in reptiles I was... Read More

Dog Travel - Taking a Vacation with Your Dog

Like most dog owners, you probably take your dog with... Read More

5 Ways to Pamper Your Parrot

We are all busy these days and I know it's... Read More

Our Pets Behavior

Behavior can be a huge iisue with our pets. If... Read More

Scottish Terrier Dogs - Important Facts

Scottish Terriers are short-legged dogs, at a height of ten... Read More

Five Powerful Reasons Why Owning A Pet Could Make You Live Longer

You may have heard that pets have been scientifically proven... Read More

A Short Introduction To Flowerhorn Cichlids

Flowerhorn Cichlids Flowerhorn cichlids is a hybrid cichlid that was... Read More

Westie Merchandise that Benefits your Dog

There are many places to find Westie merchandise, but before... Read More

Potty Training Your Puppy

A new puppy is a joyous addition to any home.... Read More