and take your time with the introductions. The single biggest problem with introducing a new baby or
a new pet to an existing pet dog is jealousy. This doesn’t have to be a huge problem. Owners, unintentionally,
cause a large part of the problem themselves by being too protective of the new arrival, or not giving
enough attention to the existing pet. Stop and think about it a minute. Your dog lives for your attention.
Anything that comes into his world and causes you to either not give him as much attention, or worse
yet, reprimand and reject him, is going to cause him to feel very jealous.
Before introducing a new arrival, the whole family should sit down for a family meeting and be instructed
in the plan. Then, everybody sticks with it. By including your dog in the excitement of the new arrival
you can make it a happy occasion for everybody.
Question :
My husband and I have just gotten a seven-week-old Welsh Corgi puppy, a female. We haven’t
brought her home yet. We already have a three-year-old, neutered German Shepherd, a male.
He’s been an “only dog” his whole life, is very bonded to us and gets along very well with other people.
How do we introduce this new puppy?
Answer :
It is good that your German Shepherd is well socialized. In other words, he gets along well with
strangers and other animals. You shouldn’t have any problem introducing your new puppy as
long as you follow a few rules.
Because your Shepherd is a large dog and your new Welsh Corgi pup is so small, you may feel the need
to protect her, a common mistake people make in introducing their dog to a new puppy. If you get nervous
and overly protective, grabbing up the pup and reprimanding your Shepherd every time he gets near
your pup, the Shepherd is going to assume the pup is doing something wrong and needs to be punished,
or that something wrong is definitely going on.
You need to assume a very casual, up-beat attitude about the introduction. The first meeting
should be outside your Shepherd’s territory, if possible, so he will feel less protective (perhaps at a park,
or at least the front yard, rather than in the house or back yand). This neutral ground means they are
meeting on more equal status.
Put your pup in a travel kennel, or better yet, a small wire crate. Put the crate on the ground and let
your Shepherd investigate the pup through the wire. VERY IMPORTANT – praise your Shepherd
and be very happy whenever he is around the pup. He will take his cues about this new arrival from
you. If you’re happy and relaxed, he will be too. If you’re nervous and jumpy, he will assume there is
good reason for him to be nervous and jumpy too.
The next meeting can be in your back yard or house, because you need a safe, enclosed area. Put your
Shepherd’s leash on his collar, but don’t hold him tightly. First let him come up to the pup and sniff it,
while one of you holds the pup on your lap. Praise your Shepherd and stay very relaxed and happy.
Don’t hold the pup over the Shepherd’s head while standing. This could make the pup look like a toy you’re
about to throw for him or even be threatening.
Next, put the puppy on the ground and let your Shepherd nose him. Don’t worry if he rolls the pup
over or puts a paw on him, as long as your Shepherd continues to look happy and relaxed. If he looks
aggressive or nervous, take a break and reevaluate your attitude. Were you happy and relaxed?
Did you act excited and pet and praise the Shepherd?
Supervise all interactions between the two until the puppy gets
older and your Shepherd has firmly
“adopted” her. Feed the two separately and in different places. The puppy should have her own puppy
crate and shouldn’t invade your Shepherd’s bed. Get her her own puppy toys as well. Don’t interfere
if your Shepherd takes a toy away from her or won’t let her on his bed. Adult dogs will reprimand puppies
when they get too rowdy and will teach them how to act around other dogs. Let him be a teacher, don’t
interfere.
Finally, make the same rules apply to the new puppy as to your Shepherd. If he is not allowed
on your bed, don’t let her sleep on your bed. She should have her own bed in her crate, next to your
bed at night.
Question :
My wife and I are soon to have our first baby. We have a four-year-old, mixed-breed hound. Boomer
has been like our child. How do we introduce the new baby?
Answer :
A new baby in the house is going to mean big changes for everybody, Boomer included. When a baby
comes, there is often much less time for the family pet. You can make the transition easier for Boomer
if you start preparing for it a little ahead of time. Think about how much time and attention Boomer
gets now. If he is used to a lot of time with you and you know that will decrease when the baby comes,
start decreasing the time you spend with him a couple of weeks before the baby comes, so that he doesn’t
equate the arrival of the baby with the change.
VERY IMPORTANT – I’m not suggesting you stick Boomer in the back yard and ignore him. However,
if he’s used to sitting beside you for hours in the evening while you watch TV and pet his head, you
can start now to pet him and talk to him for several minutes, then get up and go do something. Give
him lots of quality attention, but in shorter spurts.
Try very hard not to change the rules on him because you have a new baby. If Boomer is used to
being in the house with you, don’t stick him in the back yard. He’ll be miserable and may associate the
isolation with the baby and become jealous. If he’s always been allowed on the couch, don’t change
the rules when baby comes. Just keep him well bathed and groomed.
After the baby is born, bring an article of the baby’s clothing home from the hospital and let Boomer
investigate the new little one’s smell ahead of time. When the baby comes home, have a friend or
relative carry the baby into the house the first time so that Boomer does not associate the baby with you.
[above extractions from Dr. Jim Humphries]
“adopted” her. Feed the two separately and in different places. The puppy should have her own puppy
crate and shouldn’t invade your Shepherd’s bed. Get her her own puppy toys as well. Don’t interfere
if your Shepherd takes a toy away from her or won’t let her on his bed. Adult dogs will reprimand puppies
when they get too rowdy and will teach them how to act around other dogs. Let him be a teacher, don’t
interfere.
Finally, make the same rules apply to the new puppy as to your Shepherd. If he is not allowed
on your bed, don’t let her sleep on your bed. She should have her own bed in her crate, next to your
bed at night.
Question :
My wife and I are soon to have our first baby. We have a four-year-old, mixed-breed hound. Boomer
has been like our child. How do we introduce the new baby?
Answer :
A new baby in the house is going to mean big changes for everybody, Boomer included. When a baby
comes, there is often much less time for the family pet. You can make the transition easier for Boomer
if you start preparing for it a little ahead of time. Think about how much time and attention Boomer
gets now. If he is used to a lot of time with you and you know that will decrease when the baby comes,
start decreasing the time you spend with him a couple of weeks before the baby comes, so that he doesn’t
equate the arrival of the baby with the change.
VERY IMPORTANT – I’m not suggesting you stick Boomer in the back yard and ignore him. However,
if he’s used to sitting beside you for hours in the evening while you watch TV and pet his head, you
can start now to pet him and talk to him for several minutes, then get up and go do something. Give
him lots of quality attention, but in shorter spurts.
Try very hard not to change the rules on him because you have a new baby. If Boomer is used to
being in the house with you, don’t stick him in the back yard. He’ll be miserable and may associate the
isolation with the baby and become jealous. If he’s always been allowed on the couch, don’t change
the rules when baby comes. Just keep him well bathed and groomed.
After the baby is born, bring an article of the baby’s clothing home from the hospital and let Boomer
investigate the new little one’s smell ahead of time. When the baby comes home, have a friend or
relative carry the baby into the house the first time so that Boomer does not associate the baby with you.
[above extractions from Dr. Jim Humphries]
