Introducing new dog to home/other dog...

[SarahandSam]

After the “should I get another dog” thread on OT day, we have decided: yes. (: We’re getting a second miniature dachshund. He’s 6 and neutered; we already have a 10-year-old spayed female dachsie.

He was a rescue as a puppy–puppy mill, I guess–and since then has lived with his current owners. They have to go into assisted living and have to give him up. They don’t need to move right away, but have already given up their other dog, most of their cats, their bird, etc.

I know what to do once new dog is with us–we’ll crate train at first, introduce the dogs slowly, etc. But I’m wondering what would be the best way psychologically to introduce him to a new place, since we have enough time to do it slowly if that’s better.

My thoughts:

A) Band-aid method–just do it all at once, straight from old home to new home.
B) Ease him in–maybe take him home for a couple of hours to sniff around the house, have a play session, go for a walk, then go to old home… then maybe a weekend trip… then permanent. (My biggest concern with this is the crate training–an hour or so to sniff around is fine, but more than that I’d want to start teaching him the crate so he doesn’t have a chance to develop bad habits…)

Which do you think is better? I plan to bring him to visit his old owners in assisted living frequently–I’m sure they’ll miss him, and I think he’d be able to handle it without being terribly confused…

[Bluey]

What is standard recommendations to add one mature adult dog to a household with other mature dogs is to first have them meet at a neutral location, like down the street and go for a walk, then end the walk at the home and let them both interact in a restricted area, maybe the yard, one larger room or two.

That is what most shelter programs say works best when people adopt adult dogs into a household with other dogs.

Don’t know how that would work for you, depends on the dogs.

On taking a dog into assisted living or nursing or hospital settings for visits or therapy, you may want to ask what the requirements are.
Here, visiting dogs need to be certified thru TDI or Delta, just to insure people know to bathe or add clothing like t-shirts to dogs, to avoid possible problems and the dogs are trained to a minimum standard and of good temperament.
Our dog club will certify dogs thru both programs and it is easy, anyone with any sensible dog can qualify.

I don’t know, the dog coming from them, if that will be required.
I doubt the dog will be confused where it lives now and that they were it’s owner.
Dogs really adopt very easily to new circumstances, he will understand the new rules and being a dog, will just go along with the new arrangement without a second thought.

[Mara]

[QUOTE=Bluey;5579114]
What is standard recommendations to add one mature adult dog to a household with other mature dogs is to first have them meet at a neutral location, like down the street and go for a walk, then end the walk at the home and let them both interact in a restricted area, maybe the yard, one larger room or two.

That is what most shelter programs say works best when people adopt adult dogs into a household with other dogs.

Don’t know how that would work for you, depends on the dogs.[/QUOTE]

This is what we did when we got Lance. I picked him up in the evening, after work on the day before Thanksgiving - I wanted to take advantage of the time off from work to keep an eye on them.

They were mostly fine. We fed them both after getting them home and no one went for any food other than their own. The only issue we had - and it was slight - was that Simon didn’t want to let Lance come into the bedroom that night. We put him in a down-stay and he got praised like mad when Lance was invited back in. If I did it over again, though, I’d have crated both for the night.

[SarahandSam]

They’ve already met, we’ve taken them for walks together so they can meet on a neutral ground. (: Sylvia, our current dog, is also pretty mellow about strange dogs on her property–we’ve been visited by my parents’ dog and my in-laws’ dog–so I think him visiting will be fine. I’m just not sure if it would be confusing or reassuring to sort of ease into a new place.

Sylvia has her therapy certification, so I’m hoping to get the new dog therapy certified as well so that visiting the owners will be easy–he seems like he shouldn’t have any trouble getting it, very friendly toward people, cats and dogs. (:

[Arizona_DQ]

I have brought new adult dachshunds into my home (with 9 dachshunds already there) more than once. I let the new one be in a separate kennel for an hour or two (the other dogs can see and sniff her through the fence) and then let her meet a few of the pack at a time… Since you said that they already have walked together and know each other, I would just walk them a little and then just go into the house together. I doubt they would even think anything of it. I would, however, make sure to feed them separately and watch them with toys if either is a toy fiend… Good luck.

Dachshunds RULE!:D:D

[jetsmom]

Just take them both for a long brisk walk together to tire them out. They also seem to bond on walks. Then bring the new one home for good. I wouldn’t try any real training until he is settled in, but just let him adjust to everything. Try to keep a routine. Feed in separate places. Keep toys picked up unless you are there to supervise.

I’ve brought lots of strays into my home doing the above with no problems.