Don’t hope

RATHER FACILITATE

TEXT: SAMANTHA WALPOLE

When we add a dog or puppy to a home with existing dogs, ‘hoping’ that they will get on is not an appropriate strategy.

Facilitating good relationships requires forethought and planning.

Our responsibility as an owner is to ensure that old, young, small and large are happy and safe, physically and mentally.

We cannot simply add the new member to the family and:

• Let the dogs ‘get on with it’

• ‘Hope for the best’ or

• ‘Leave it up to them’ to sort things out

INTRODUCING A NEW MEMBER TO THE FAMILY

A multitude of factors come into play when adding a dog to existing dogs:

• Breed tendencies

• Size

• Age

• Temperament

• Health deficits

• Energy levels

• Sociability

• Experience of the older dog to help raise a puppy

• Other people in the home

• Size of the home

All of these factors matter and we need to take the time to examine these factors and also understand ‘dog rules’ and how dogs function together, instead of considering dynamics from a human perspective.

Ultimately a lot of management strategies are going to need to be employed to help build healthy relationships in line with the needs of each dog. Furthermore, strategies will continuously change as the oldies become more compromised with age and a puppy goes through adolescence and reaches maturity.

This may seem like a lot of work, but ultimately adding a dog to a home is a bit like an arranged marriage. The dogs didn’t have a say so the responsibility falls on us to help everyone in the multi-dog household to live peacefully together without fear or stress.

We really must watch, listen to and believe our dogs if any of them are showing discomfort. No-one should be worried or afraid.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

It is vital that you prepare and change your home management in line with how your dog or dogs respond to the new canine companion. It may take several approaches and lots of time before you get this right, but be patient – it takes time to build relationships!

ABOUT SAMANTHA WALPOLE

Owner of Be The Dog Behaviour and Boarding Full Practicing Member SABCAP Full member Pet Professional Guild Advanced Animal Training Illis Trainer McKaynine Training Centre