Tips for when you get a new puppy

Introducing a new puppy into your home can be a challenge especially if there already is another pet in residence.

The following tips will help with the introduction of a new puppy to existing pets :

1. If you have more than one dog, make sure you introduce the new pup separately to each dog.

2. The new pup should meet your dog on neutral territory, a good place is in the garden rather than near your dog’s kennel .

3. Sniffing and growling are normal but snapping, biting, or vicious growling should not be accepted by either dog.

4. Always show love and affection to your dog if he acts in an appropriate way. Give your dog lots of love, attention, and reassurance to win his confidence with the new puppy.

5. You should feed the dog and new puppy separately. The same goes with treats and handling toys etc.

6. Keep an eye on your pets, especially for the first two weeks to make sure that they are behaving with each other. There is always a danger that the dog’s behaviour towards the pup may become hostile again when he realises the pup is here is to stay.

Sometimes things do not work out. You may notice that the animal appears stressed, a loss of appetite, the dog looks depressed, or there are squabbles that escalate into fights. In these cases contact your vet or make a different arrangement for your pup.

By following these steps, you can help your dog adjust to a new pup. Remember not to rush their meetings, and keep things under control .