Tips for Multi-Dog Households - Part 2
Introducing a new dog to the household
When it comes to introducing a new puppy or dog to the household, the amazing Emily Larlham from Kikopup has the following excellent videos:
Also it’s important to know that with a dog of any age (puppies or otherwise) it takes time for them to settle in and they need time to get used to their new home, and their new family! Each dog is unique but the rule of 3’s is a good guideline for to the time it takes them to adjust. Give them space, be patient and help them become a happy, healthy member of the family.
3 DAYS - Settling down
You dog will need time to decompress and may be quiet or subdued as they get used to their new surrounds.
They may seem fearful, seek out places to hide and might not eat or drink.
Some dogs may appear to ‘act out’ during this phase but it’s likely to come from a place of fear.
Give them space and help them settle by feeling safe and loved.
3 WEEKS - Settling in
At this stage they are getting used to your routines and may start to feel more relaxed at home.
You are likely to see more of their personality start to appear and sometimes this is when behaviour problems start to surface.
Support them in this transitionary phase by helping them invest their daily energy into appropriate activities that satisfy mental and physical requirements.
Interactive play and basic training games will also help build their bond with you.
3 MONTHS - A (hopefully) settled pup!
Your dog should be feeling at home now and they will have developed a good bond with members of the family.
They should also be more settled outside the home, however if you are seeing any worrying behaviours, get in touch with a qualified dog trainer to help them be happier and safer in their new world.
Managing a multi-dog household
Obviously it can be challenging but if you can find a good balance and get some good systems in place to keep things harmonious, it can also be highly rewarding. These are my top tips for keep things happy and balanced:
Individual Attention: Despite having multiple dogs, it's essential to spend quality one-on-one time with each of them. This helps build a strong bond and reduces jealousy or competition for your attention.
Training and Socialisation: Proper training and socialisation are crucial for each dog's development. Teach basic commands and ensure that they are well-behaved around other dogs and people.
Separate Feeding Areas: Feeding time can be a potential source of conflict. Feed your dogs in separate areas to avoid food aggression or competition over food. This also helps ensure that each dog gets the right amount of nutrition.
Space and Resources: Make sure there are enough resources like toys, beds, and water bowls for all your dogs. Avoid situations where they feel the need to compete for these resources, which can lead to conflict.
Supervise Playtime: While playtime is essential for dogs' physical and mental well-being, supervise their interactions closely, especially when introducing a new dog or puppy. This video on what to look for in happy, healthy dog play is a good resource. Puppies need to learn good social skills and a lot of older dogs don’t enjoy or can’t cope with crazy puppy play. Learn when to step in and make sure they have plenty of breaks.
Routine and Structure: Most dogs thrive on these so establishing a consistent daily schedule for feeding, bathroom breaks, playtime, and training can help create predictability and reduces anxiety or stress.
Adequate exercise – physical and mental: Ensure that each dog gets enough exercise to burn off excess energy. Regular walks and play sessions can prevent boredom and reduce the likelihood of behavioural problems. Just as important is ensuring they have good brain exercise! Ditching the bowl at mealtimes is a great start, as is regular, short, fun training sessions with each dog.
Respect Their Space: Give each dog their own space where they can retreat when they need a break or some alone time. This can be a crate, a designated room, or a comfy bed. This is especially important if introducing a puppy to a household with a senior dog(s).
Regular Vet Check-ups: Schedule regular veterinary check-ups to monitor your dogs' health. This is especially important when you have multiple dogs since illnesses can spread more easily in a multi-dog household. Keeping a dedicated pet diary or calendar with your worming, flea treatments, vaccinations etc can also be very handy!
Be Patient and Fair: Dogs may occasionally have conflicts or display ‘jealousy’. Be patient and fair in your interactions. Understanding what your dog’s value (and attention as well as cuddles are often a bit thing to most dogs) is important and keeping an eye on their body language is so important. If they seem to be getting stressed by any of your interactions with other dogs in the household, try to reduce that stress (sometimes we even have to have ‘secret’ pats with one dog if another dog is finding this stressful or it’s causing something to compete for).
Spay/Neuter: If you're not planning to breed your dogs, consider spaying or neutering them. This can reduce hormonal-driven behaviours and the world does not need any more unplanned puppies!
Emergency Plan: Have a plan in case of emergencies, such as a fight between dogs. Knowing how to safely separate them and having contact information for a veterinarian or animal behaviourist can be lifesaving.
Professional Help: If you're having difficulty managing your multi-dog household or if there are serious behaviour issues, consider seeking help from a professional dog trainer or behaviourist.
Patience and Love: Finally, remember that each dog is unique and may have their own quirks and needs. This will also change over time as they mature. Approach the management of your multi-dog household with patience, understanding, and plenty of love for each if your furry family members.
If you’ve read this and also the ‘Part 1’ blog post, you’ll see there is a lot to consider in this process but hopefully this gives you plenty of good tips and ideas. I promise that the more thought and time you invest in making this decision the best one for your existing dog(s), the more rewarding it will be for you all!
We certainly went through a big learning curve in our household when we added Otis and while he wasn’t a puppy, we did have a young teenager to contend with (almost worse than the puppy phase!) as well as some behaviour challenges which is why he was rehomed. I absolutely adore both of my dogs and it makes me so happy to see them enjoying each other’s company but I won’t lie, it was a lot of work some days!