2nd Dog In The House

Q: Our dog Molly is 11 years old now and has been the heart of this household since she was six weeks old. We are now thinking it would be a good time to get a second dog but are pretty worried about how to integrate the two. Molly is super friendly and gets along well with other dogs at the park, but we are not sure what she will think of sharing her house and people. What should we look out for and how can we make this an easier transition for our senior doggie?

A: Christine Reynard of Downtown Dogs responds: Integrating a new puppy into a household with an older dog can be tricky, but there are a lot of ways for you to keep Molly feeling secure and happy when the new little one arrives.



Ease into the Introduction: If possible, bring home something ahead of the pup's arrival that has his or her scent on it. Show it to Molly, let her sniff it and give her favourite treat, telling her what a good girl she is. Soon she'll be meeting her new playmate!



Introduce the Dogs on Neutral Territory: When it's time to bring the new pup home, have Molly meet her out of the house or car. A favourite park can be the perfect place, and will allow for lots of sniffing and a romp in the grass. If Molly enjoys playing ball, throw in a quick game- this will build positive associations around meeting your new pup for the first time! Give Molly lots of praise, attention, and rewards for being such a good girl. Now it's time to head home.



Put Molly First: Since Molly is now the "senior member of the pack" it's your job to show her that you acknowledge her status over that of the puppy. Older dogs feel much less accepting of a newcomer if they feel that their position within the pack is being threatened. Giving Molly the respect she deserves is as easy as remembering to give her everything first- firs

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