Knowing how to introduce a new dog into your household is key to a smooth move-in transition. While every dog is different, there are some tried-and-true tips for managing first meetings and keeping both your new pup and existing pets comfortable. Here are some things to remember when introducing a new canine family member:
Before bringing your puppy home, gather and arrange pet items into a single area. It can be a bowl, bones, bed or toys. Make certain the puppy has their own area for everything they need, separate from your other pets.
Cleaning up clutter can help avoid messes and overwhelming your furry friends. You can also use a high baby gate, as it keeps your dogs separated - but still able to communicate - until they get used to one another.
To introduce two dogs, start with a supervised meeting. Watch both dogs’ movements closely, including the way they walk and react to the environment. They might make some aggressive posturing or noises, but if they are not openly hostile, you can give them some time to calmly interact.
Generally, introducing a new dog or puppy to humans is a bit simpler than introducing them to other dogs. Still, it’s important to keep first meetings calm and quiet. It’s also a good idea to allow the new dog a place to retreat if they want their own space.
For other pets like cats, you can try a similar method as you did with introducing dogs. Body language and behavior is crucial at this stage - if you notice any signs of aggression towards a cat or smaller animal, separate them immediately.
Being aware of your own body language and verbal communication during this stage is just as important as being aware of the dog’s. Emphasize positive feedback for calm behavior by keeping your own vocal levels soft and encouraging.
Bringing home a new puppy or dog is an exciting experience. Paying careful attention to how dogs interact with each other and other animals is important for keeping everybody happy and comfortable. Though it will take a few weeks for the new pup to get acclimated, these tips will help you prepare for the process.
Shana Lundell has been a real estate professional since 2003 in Bourne, Cape Cod, Plymouth and the surrounding areas, where she’s lived since 2000. Shana is a luxury and waterfront specialist who has represented hundreds of buyers and sellers, including representing builders in over 100 new construction transactions in her career. She consistently achieves recognition awards for top production, including membership in the Coldwell Banker® International President’s Elite, an honor reserved for the Top 3% of agents globally. Shana ranks in the Top 100 of 4,000 Coldwell Banker agents in New England.
Shana works with a range of clients, including lifestyle properties, vacation residences, down-sizers, trade-up buyers, land, first-time home buyers, and new construction sales. She understands that moving happens for a myriad of reasons and has had the honor of helping all types of transactions. Many emotions can come into play during this time, but Shana is skilled at keeping calm and carrying on with care, professionalism, open communication, and the ability to keep things on target to achieve results. She guides her clients smoothly through the process, from dynamic marketing measures, negotiation and solution strategies, connecting pivotal professional resources, to coordinating the essential closing details.
Shana is proud to have over 100 five-star client testimonials that rave about her positive, professional, responsive, and authentic approach to real estate service. Love where you live. Live where you love. Looking to buy or sell? Call Shana Lundell!
