Introducing Your New Dog to Resident Dogs

Even if your new dog lived successfully with dogs in foster care, introductions in a new home should still be slow and structured.

The goal is calm coexistence—not immediate friendship.

Start Outside

• Use one adult handler per dog whenever possible.
• Keep both dogs securely leashed.
• Begin with a parallel walk.
• Allow space between the dogs.
• Gradually decrease distance when both dogs appear relaxed.
• Avoid forcing face-to-face greetings.

Keep Greetings Brief

Allow brief sniffing, then calmly encourage the dogs to separate and continue walking.

Several short successful interactions are better than one long interaction that becomes uncomfortable.

Entering the Home

• Remove food, bones, chews, and favorite toys initially.
• Use gates or separate spaces to give each dog breaks.
• Feed dogs separately.
• Do not force dogs to share beds or resting areas.
• Supervise interactions closely.

Do Not Leave Them Alone Together Yet

Separate dogs whenever you leave the house until you know their relationship very well.

Watch Body Language

Give dogs more space if you see:

• Freezing
• Hard staring
• Stiff posture
• Repeated avoidance
• Growling
• Snapping
• Resource guarding
• One dog repeatedly overwhelming the other

Growling Is Communication

Do not punish a dog for growling. Increase distance and determine what made the dog uncomfortable.