Introduction of new dog

[Carol Manning]

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Hi there

I wondered if anyone had any advice on introducing a new dog to an existing one? Although we have had many dogs, this situation is slightly different. We have to go to Portsmouth which is quite a drive and will be taking our dog with us. The reason for this is that we do not think that it a good idea to leave our dog at home and just turn up with the new one. We have to pick the new one up in the evening. Now, do we walk them together for a while and then put them in the car together in the back where our dog sits normally and expect there to be no problem? Or should we have the new one in the front (I think this may be unfair on the other one) or do we have our dog in the front and the new one in the back?

They have met already but just for a few minutes and seemed to be ok.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Carol.

 

[JoanneF]

Actually, having any dog in the front carries a risk should you be involved in a collision. Could you manage to keep them separate in the back? Ideally in two crates with something (even a big piece of cardboard) between them so they don't see each other? Otherwise if it was me I'd be trying to have someone look after my existing dog for the day. If they aren't sure of each other, a car poses lots of problems for proximity and even resource guarding if one is on your knee. If you have to do that, I'd have your current dog on your knee so you reduce the resource guarding risk.

 

[dogmatize]

It's not safe for any dog to travel in the front seat . In the case of an impact if the air bag goes off it will be killed. I presume you are not travelling alone- one person needs to look after the new dog and one looks after the older dog.

If your older dog is used to travelling on the back seat then I would have him there and someone sit in the back with both of them. I'm not sure if the new dog is a puppy?

I would not attempt to do this on your own as you won't have enough control of either the dogs or the car.

I also think it is usual for most people to ' just turn up ' with a new dog. Could someone not dog sit until you get back with the other dog? I would think inappropriate if someone came to collect their puppy with their other dog.

 

[JoanneF]

Good point Dogmatise, I wasn't thinking of the airbag at all.

 

[Cash_Dolly]

When I have collected new dogs (many times - I rescue/rehome) I always make sure the dogs have met first and get on then 9 times out of ten collect the new dog and bring home to the others where we would go a walk together before taking the new dog into the house. However I wasn't on my own doing this I always had help. My main concern in a new dog in close proximity of the other in the car. That said there have been a couple of instances where I have taken another dog with me to collect the new one. Different circumstances etc. I had both my lurchers with me when I collected my whippet as he was a last minute "rescue" and had never met my other dogs. I literally took them with me to a supermarket car park where I had arranged to pick my little whippet up. They all met in the car park for a bit then were loaded into the car and away (I did have someone with me to help) now that was far from an ideal situation but the circumstances and the way things worked out that is what had to happen (and worked out perfectly fine)

 

[gypsysmum2]

If your dog is fine at home then I would collect the new dog. and bring it home. Leave it in the car, when you get home, and retrieve your existing dog from the house and take them both for a walk together. When you return from your walk, take them both into the garden for a good sniff around.

 

[Carol Manning]

Hi I think maybe Dogmatise and JoanneF may have misunderstood - maybe due to my poor description of the car and also have miss read the fact that I said 'we' and 'our'? I am not going on my own. Also, my fault, when I say in the back and front, I should have explained that we have a 4 wheel drive so our existing dog is right in the back of it and I thought to use a dog harness for the back seat for the new one. Never in the front, I have had dogs all my life and many rescues and they have always been in the rear of the car, estate or 4 wheel drive.

Anyway, thank you for all your advice, especially to Cash_Dolly and gypsymum2. We may well leave our girl at home with someone and do the walk there instead.

Thanks again all.