Are you planning on introducing a new puppy or adult dog sibling to your current canine companion? Whilst there is a good chance that both pets will benefit from each other’s company in the long term, it’s best not to just assume that a beautiful friendship will immediately blossom.

Here are our team’s top tips on how to safely welcome your dog’s future best friend to the household.

1. Choose the new pet carefully

Try to choose a new pet you think will have a similar overall “energy” to your current dog. For instance, if you were to introduce a very bouncy working dog pup to an old sedentary lap dog, the older pet is likely to feel overwhelmed by the pup’s energy, and may become anxious or cranky, or be injured.

Additionally, dogs of the opposite sex are less likely to fight as adults, compared to two females or two males.

2. Ensuring both pets are healthy

To help prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, ensure that both dogs are up to date with parasite prevention and vaccines according to their age schedules. If you’re unsure, ask our team for advice.

It’s also a good idea to have your new pup health-checked by our experienced vets within the first 2-3 days of obtaining them, with your older pet also having been assessed within the last three months. This will help to ensure that both pets are as healthy and comfortable as possible for future play sessions!

3. Introduce on neutral territory

It’s safest to introduce the new pets to each other on neutral territory—for instance, on a footpath outside your property. We recommend that adult pets be introduced on a lead, while pups are best confined to a crate or carrier.

4. Gradual, supervised interactions

Lastly, we’d strongly recommend supervised interactions only for the first few weeks, until you’re sure both pets can relax comfortably together. This includes strictly supervising and/or separating pets for offering meals and treats and arranging separate rest areas (using baby gates or crates).

For more advice on building beautiful canine friendships, consult our knowledgeable team!