How To Prepare a Dog For a New Pet

  • December 23, 2009
  • 701 Views

KeithMcKellar from Keith Heyward (and 12 others)

Emerging Filmmakers
Please install Flash

A new pet can make your best friend pretty doggone upset, but there are ways to help them get over their jealousy.

You Will Need

  • Dog treats
  • Lots of love
  • Plenty of patience
How To Prepare a Dog For a New Pet: Keeping them apart

Step 1: Keeping them apart

When you bring a new pet into the house for the first time, hold them in your arms so your current dog can see and smell them, but not harm them in any way. Keep the new pet in a separate room for a few days so both animals can get used to the new environment.

How To Prepare a Dog For a New Pet: Maintain the old routines

Step 2: Maintain the old routines

Dogs don’t like change very much, so make sure to keep feeding, walking, and playing with your current dog at the same time each day.

How To Prepare a Dog For a New Pet: Let the pets meet

Step 3: Let the pets meet

While sitting in the living room, let the two pets meet face-to-face. Stay close enough to separate them if necessary, but far enough away so that the two pets can get to know each other’s scent.

How To Prepare a Dog For a New Pet: Feed the current pet first

Step 4: Feed the current pet first

Show a little favoritism by feeding your dog before the new pet, but don’t let them steal food from the new pet’s bowl.

How To Prepare a Dog For a New Pet: Let the top dog stay at the top

Step 5: Let the top dog stay at the top

Go out of your way to show as much affection to your dog as you always did, perhaps even a little more. When they’re good or while you’re playing together, slip them an extra treat or two.

In the 1984 movie “Ghostbusters,” Bill Murray’s character indicated the end of civilization by saying “Dogs and cats living together – mass hysteria!”

Something wrong?

Report This How-To

Cancel

Comments (1)

MKF

Great video, love the dog.

over 2 years ago by MKF

Reply

or to post a comment. Or, sign in using your Facebook to comment
and share your activity with your friends