Hello. I would love to get some advice here. In October I will be bringing home a second GSD (female). My current GSD is male, two, calm, loyal and fiercely protective of my family. He likes dogs quite a lot and always wants to play. He's never gone after a dog (although quite a few little ones have gotten scrappy with him).

Just wondering if there are any "do's " and "don'ts" for the first meeting of the dogs, the first night (he sleeps in our room on his bed), the first few days...?

As always...thanks much.

I've always had good luck introducing a new pup to the current one(s) somewhere other than on "home turf." Leash up the adult dog and walk him to the park, or down the street to meet up with the pup who is waiting there with someone else (husband, friend, etc.)

Both dogs can meet/sniff/make nice in this neutral place, then go home together.

Will the new puppy be crate trained in your home? That would be my recommendation.

Me too, Tracy.

I also like to start with a walk, with one on each side of me .... to start cementing the idea that I am the boss of everyone here. LOL

It's also an added way to make the first proximity be "sideways," or not so face-to-face.

And when we enter the house together, it makes it very clear to the senior dog that I am welcoming this new dog in ... s/he is "with me."

The way I introduce a pup to an adult is through a barrier (crate) initially. For the first week the dogs never get together free style, period. One stays in kennel while the other roams around. Then brief 1-2 minute sessions a day that are heavily supervised. Gradually increase free time the dogs are together. Works well when the older dog is close to or fully trained. That way you have control of one variable. The purpose is two fold, protect the pup initially and later on, protect the older dog from the piranha

ps: The older dog learns through control that he can not harm the pup. Sometimes he minds so much that the pup takes advantage, you dont want that either (out of proportion) so a delicate balance when dealing with high drive working dogs.

 Quote: faisal khan

Works well when the older dog is close to or fully trained. That way you have control of one variable. The purpose is two fold, protect the pup initially and later on, protect the older dog from the piranha

This is very important. Make sure you are really ready for that second dog by doing lots of training and groundwork with your first

My dogs are 1, 5, & 9. I have found that personally four years apart or so works great for my needs. I can accomplish a lot in those four years and mental maturity has kicked in for the dogs also.

When introducing a new pup to the pack, I have always met on neutral ground. In both cases, my dogs met the puppy and then rode home in the car with the pup for 2 hours. My existing dogs were crated, pup slept.

Upon arrival home, we walked around a bit. Existing dogs were calm, but interested in the new pup. Entered the house, pup kept tethered. Interactions limited. In both cases, it was obvious that my existing dog and eventually dogs, were comfortable with the pup being there and quickly understood how to behave.

Be prepared to separate your adult dog and pup. You don't want the pup to get to "doggy" and you don't want the adult dog to have to put up with annoying pup all day. When integrating my pups into the existing pack, I find a lot of value in walking as a pack (yes, I walk three at once) and also group obedience sessions of things like sits, downs, stays, leave it, etc. Also, my dogs have "doggy friends", which are family members dogs that they occasionally interact with. My dogs understand how to act in close proximity to other dogs, which made it easy to integrate the pup.

Thanks everyone. My current GSD, Tonto, is well trained and has been around neighborhood dogs without incident. I will be sure to introduce the dogs on neutral ground - I like the idea of having Tonto with me when I pick up the pup and then driving home together.

I'm hearing/reading lots of advice to really keep the two separated as much as possible at the beginning and allowing for a few monitored interactions a day.

Any other advice is most appreciated.

Thanks

It totally depend on the adult dog(s).
With my own adults I've always just set the puppy down on the ground with them in the yard.
I've always felt an adult that reacts badly to a puppy has a short circuit somewhere.

I do the same as Bob - puppies are not a real novelty to any of the dogs here, though.

i do a mix between faisal and bob's method: pup is initially in a crate (like 3-5 minutes), then turned out with my older dog. i will add that my older dog is a bitch who is REALLY GOOD with pups. when adding a pup with an older dog who may not be so tolerant, i leash both for the first few interactions just to judge tolerance/prevent "accidents"--don't need THAT

"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"