A New Canine Friend for Your Dog

• When you first bring your new dog home, start by letting them get acquainted in the yard (if fenced) or take a short walk around the neighborhood with both dogs.  It may be easier if you have a housemate or friend to help you with these first interactions.
• Bring them inside and make sure to watch their interactions carefully.  Set the tone to happy and jolly and make sure to praise when they are interacting in a playful or affiliative manner.
• Make sure that each dog has a bed/crate and dishes of their own.  Initially, they should be fed in separate areas to avoid any aggression over food.  They may eventually be able to eat in the same area; this will be dependent on their temperaments and past experiences. Each dog having his own bed/crate allows them to be able to retreat if stressed.
• Have your dog's toys put away before your new dog comes home.  Then, slowly introduce toys and carefully watch their interactions with the toys.  This is a context where some dogs may become possessive.  Also, watch their interactions when giving both dogs treats or chewies.  These can be considered prized possessions by some dogs.
• Make sure that your new dog has to follow the same rules as your current dog.  You will not get to pick who is more of a leader...they will work that out themselves.
• Remember to give your original dog individual attention just as he had before.  For example, you could put your new dog in his kennel with a stuffed kong and then play ball in your back yard with your old dog.
• Your dogs may have a few quarrels in the beginning, but if these increase or cause any injury to either dog, you should seek professional help.  Never leave dogs unattended with each other - crate or use barriers to separate when you can't supervise.

A Canine Friend for Your Cat

Many people live very peacefully with both species; here a few things to be thinking about in order to have a successfull "mixed" family.  A dog who would most likely do well with a cat is a dog who approaches the cat cautiously, but with an open tail wag and can be distracted or called away from the cat very easily.  A dog that would most likely not do well with a cat is a dog who becomes stiff, intensely stares at the cat and cannot be distracted away from the cat.

Here are some tips on helping your dog and cat form a peaceful relationship from the start:

• When you get home, keep your dog on leash as you enter the house.  Keep your dog on leash for the rest of the day/night and make sure to monitor his reaction to the cat.
• Make sure your cat has many escape areas if she is not comfortable around the dog.  Don't be alarmed if the cat runs and hides at first.  She will need time and space to adjust.  Some cat/dog owners use a baby gate at the entrance of a room so that the cat can have access to the room and the dog cannot.
• If your cat is really stressed, you may want to confine her in a comfortable room with a litter box and food/water and close the door.  Let her cruise around the house when the dog is on a walk or in his crate.
• You may also offer your cat treats to encourage bravery around the dog.  Your cat may start to think: "Hmm...when I walk up to the dog I get tuna...I like this dog."
• Don't allow your new dog to chase your cat.  That is not "fun" for either of them and could put your cat in danger.
• Do not leave the cat and dog home alone, unconfined, until you are 100% comfortable with their interactions.