Are you wondering how to introduce your new pet dog to your existing pets?
With 2 cats and a rabbit, adding a dog to the family can be challenging if not managed well.
How to help a dog adjust with a new family? Though not easy, you can do it for sure.
Think about humans. If you have a new family member in the house, will you not introduce them to the existing family members to get them acquainted and comfortable with everyone.
It’s the other way round too. The existing family members also need to have a warm and welcoming attitude towards the newest addition in the family.
Introducing Dogs to Family
It is best to make the pets meet each other at a place which is not your home or garden. Doing this can help avoid the territorial behavior.
Being patient and calm is a big help. If you are stressed, your dog can sense it and becomes stressed as well. Your pet knows you well and will be able to gauge your gestures, body language and even your tone and manner of talking.
Tips for socializing your dog
Like humans, dogs also have unique and individual personalities. Don’t you find some humans to be more friendly and outgoing while others are quieter and more reclusive? Similarly, dogs can also be trained well to enable them to socialize with other people, dogs and other pets.
Dogs can also be trained to get along with other dogs, animals and people. You can successfully socialize a dog when he is young in a safe environment. It is important to make socializing a priority and give enough time and practice to develop this trait.
Whether your dog is young or approaching old age, they can certainly learn to socialize with adequate practice. Here, we are sharing some of our best ideas on how to do that on a daily basis:
- Take the time to maintain a play schedule for your dog to teach him sharing and many other things. Games like fetch are ideal for teaching him to understand instructions through words, gestures and body language.
- Take him out to the parkand make him interact with other dogs, pets.
- Analyse and observe your dog’s emotions. Any behaviour like tail tacking or cowering behind something or someone may indicate that it’s getting too much for him. If that happens, give him a break.
- Identifying and rewarding good behavior helps him learn and repeat the good acts.
Socializing a Puppy
Puppies are exactly like children. Puppies also have key periods where their development is at peaks. Their brains and body develop fast so catching him early can be beneficial.
Essential development time for puppies starts from approximately 3 weeks of age up to the time they are of 12 weeks. In this period, if you are able to acquaint them with a variety of new experiences, it can be beneficial for the growth and development of their personality. Here is how you can do this:
- Make him meet new people
- Introduce her to other animals like dogs, cats
- Take him to new places, parks and areas for play and just a simple walk
- Acquaint him with children so that they get comfortable around them
Once he is acquainted with little children, he may understand the difference between children and adults. He will then understand why children make weird and funny noises and behave in an unpredictable manner.
Why is Dog Socialization Effective?
How does socialization happen for a dog?
Well, if you are dumbstruck for a response, consider answering this one.
How do humans socialize?
It takes average human hours, days and years of practice. It’s the same for a dog too. The more he socializes, the better he becomes at it.
Everyone likes praise! Praise and reward will make him do his best at every opportunity. It sets him up to repeat the good behaviour and makes him have successful interactions.
Being a new dog owner, you would certainly like to know more about how to set up your new pet dog for his best interactions-both with humans and with other pets.
Ensuring a good and positive first interaction is something which has to be properly planned and orchestrated well for a successful outcome.
Let your friend take sufficient time to build a relationship with everyone. Taking it slowly and gradually will help to build lasting relationships.