04 Aug How Should You Introduce Puppy to a Dominant Dog?
How Should You Introduce Puppy to a Dominant Dog?
Best wishes on your new pet! Being a new dog owner is exciting and worrisome all at once, isn’t it? No matter how much experience you have with dogs, every dog is unique and presents its own set of difficulties, so it’s always worthwhile to check in if you have any worries.
Dominant or Frightened?
Let’s start by defining what you mean by “dominant.” Dogs’ aggressive dominance and desire to be the “alpha” are no longer widely accepted theories. It has been discovered that the motivation behind the actions we once classified as “dominant”—like resource guarding—is fear. The other dog is more likely to be scared and protective of his favorite objects if you want to imply that he is dominating because he won’t let other dogs approach his food, his sofa, or his person.
According to the RSPCA, “animal behavioural specialists are now universally agreed that dogs that exhibit hostility toward people or other dogs are not acting in a “dominant” manner. Rather, social misunderstanding, frustration, fear, worry, or learning are more frequently the causes of aggressiveness.
Can the meeting be postponed?
Next, you must determine if this meeting is required to take place. If the adult dog is only a passing acquaintance, it might be best to postpone the meeting until after you have learned more about your new puppy and given them some positive, positive experiences with other dogs. If this meeting doesn’t go well, you don’t want to discourage them from meeting new dogs in the future. Of course, it’s possible that the adult dog already belongs to you, a roommate, or a family member in which case the meeting must take place immediately.
Where Are They To Meet?
The meeting should often be held outside of the house. If the older dog is prone to being a bit resource-defensive, it’s better to remove him from that setting so he doesn’t perceive your puppy as such a danger. The elder dog is used to having the home to himself. Think about a secure, private, neutral area, such as a friend’s garden. Don’t forget to verify your new puppy’s immunization record before taking him anyplace!
How to Introduce an Adult Dog to a Puppy
You want the dogs to be close to one another but not actually pay attention to one another. The distance must be sufficient for the older dog to tolerate the puppy’s presence without feeling threatened or the need to defend his belongings. Food or toys can be employed. If both dogs are completely calm, you can try bringing them closer while keeping the distraction going. You can try letting them smell if the adult dog is still at ease with the circumstance and you are approaching one another by a few meters. The leads shouldn’t be held too tightly as this might affect the behavior of the dogs, but both dogs should be on leads so that you can separate them if required. Dogs use their body to communicate, so if we limit how easy they can move, this might lead to misunderstandings. It’s best to have a long trailing line that you can grasp if required. Allow both dogs to approach at their own pace, and if there are no signs of conflict, encourage them both with words of encouragement. Since pups may be bothersome and still need to develop their social skills, you don’t always need to step in when the older dog corrects your puppy. My own dog and my mother’s dog’s bed were soon identified as no-go areas, and they get along just fine everywhere else in the home. The dogs must mostly resolve this issue among themselves. If everything seems to be going well, I think that taking a walk together helps to strengthen the bond. However, as I mentioned before, always make sure your puppy is secure before taking it outside.
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