Acquiring a Second Dog
Dear Alex,
I am interested in purchasing a new puppy. The pet we have now is a male Akita and I’m afraid that he and the new puppy may not get along. Do you have any suggestions?
John –
Dear John,
I have several suggestions for you. First, some dogs remain unaccepting of a new dog in the household. So, if you are going to attempt to introduce a new pet, puppy or adult, you should also consider an alternate game plan in case it just won’t work out.
Secondly, some behaviorists think that introducing a dog of the opposite sex can be helpful; others think it really doesn’t make a difference. I would think that two non-neutered males might make the worst match, however, so neutering is certainly advisable if your new puppy will be a male as well.
Another suggestion I have is to introduce your Akita and the new puppy with caution. Use two people who are confident about handling dogs. You need to put each dog on a short leash, with each person controlling one of them. Use a cloth muzzle or a type of leash-and-muzzle combination that encircles the muzzle for good control. Take them to an area where neither dog has the “upper paw”because he is already familiar with the terrain–perhaps a uncrowded park or open field where neither feels any “ownership” of the area. Your home or back yard is not the best place. Also, visual or auditory distractions in the unfamiliar area may work to your advantage. A client of mine also suggests that you allow both dogs to take a walk together first, not letting them get face to face but allowing them to interact only after they are calmed down. If they want to play together and adopt “play postures,” like crouching down on their forequarters, then you are off to a great start. If either growls, you may be off to a rough start. And if you do get off to a rough start, simply try again under similar conditions later.
The final point to remember is most dogs do work out their differences all right, if given the right conditions and an adequate amount of time. Be patient.
Larry Baker, for Ask Alex
