by Veronica Havens

Created on: December 07, 2008   Last Updated: July 23, 2010

There is the need in both human and canine nature to establish dominancy in any home. If you were to bring another man home to get along with and share that responsibility with your husband, he'd be upset. The same goes for your dog. Bringing another dog into your home either when your first dog is young or old, is going to be a little difficult. Luckily, there are ways to help diffuse the situation and get them to become great friends.

When we decided to add another puppy to our household, Luigi was a vibrant, one and a half year old daschund mix. At first, he viewed the new, little puppy, Ollie, as a fun playmate. Then, he slowly began to realize that Ollie wasn't leaving. And he noticed Ollie was cuddling his Mommy. And then he was really upset when Ollie started partaking in dinner and treat time. That was the last straw. My boyfriend and I proceeded with the necessary steps to ensure they would become friends.

It is highly recommended to start the socializing process when your dog is a puppy. And, of course, you should have a very good idea of how your dog reacts to other dogs before just bringing a new puppy home. First, you'll want to take your dog to the dog park, pet store and other pet friendly places, to see how well he reacts. If he lovingly sniffs and plays with other dogs, you're in a great position, but if he growls, barks and tries to attack the other pets, you should either rethink getting a new dog or work on some serious training skills before committing to the idea.

When doing a "pre-new dog checklist", you should be very aware of, not only the current dog in your home, but also your new dog's attitude. You'll want to find a dog that seems great with other dogs. In some cases, you may be able to bring your dog along to meet potential new friends. This is, by far, the best situation, because they can meet and interact before the decision has been made. You should be careful in choosing a dog that is in close proximity to your dog's age, if possible. I understand the allure of a bouncing new puppy, but when you bring that three month old terrier home to your eight year old lab, problems are likely to ensue. They'll never be near the same agility or playful level and the puppy won't understand why his big brother won't play with him. So, keep in mind age and breed personalities.

The number one rule to introducing a new dog to the family, would be to never exclude the first dog. Your first dog is, no matter what, going to wonder if he/she is being replaced. They must understand this new pet is simply to add to the family, not interrupt. When playing and petting the new dog, give plenty of attention to the pre-existing pet. Treat both of them at the same time and speak to both of them when it comes to commands. You have to make sure that your dogs both feel prepared to love each other and share their home.

Once the new puppy grows on the current dog, there's no stopping the bond they can share. Luigi tends to get a little annoyed now and again with his new little brother, but Ollie worships Luigi. They cuddle, play and do everything else together with almost no problems. Once done successfully, you'll find that giving your canine a playmate can be a rewarding experience for everyone. Good luck!

Learn more about this author, Veronica Havens.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.