You’ve done your research and as a family have decided on a new dog that seems to be the best fit for you. Now the long awaited day of bringing home your new family member has finally arrived. But how do you insure that introductions to humans and existing animals will go smoothly? Two pieces of advice: (1) Plan ahead and (2) take your time. Experts in the field always suggest introducing a newbie to an existing dog in neutral territory, for example, a park or even a sidewalk near your home. Give both dogs plenty of time to sniff. Remember, this is how dogs exchange information, and if there ever were an important time to have an exchange of information, this is it!

Even though you are eager to show your new dog around her new digs, take time to enjoy your first pack walk together. Slowly introduce her to your yard, again giving plenty of time to sniff. If multiple people are involved, let the puppy/dog come up to them. Use lots of praise when the nose is being used.  Even though you may have a big fenced yard, keeping a leash on insures that she can’t get out of your reach. If you’re really lucky on this first outing in your yard, she will pee or poop. You may not be prepared this first time, but you will get in the habit of carrying treats in your pocket to reward immediately.

Once finally inside the house, keep the leash on! With the leash attached, you can walk your new family member around, letting her explore with her nose. If she becomes over- zealous with an older dog or starts to chase the cat, you can much more quickly interrupt by stepping on the leash. And finally one of the most important introductions you can make on this first day is actually to an inanimate object, and that’s her crate. More about why crates are an essential tool next time!