A second dog can be a companion for the first, or a source of tension. Dogs Trust says some dogs become firm friends soon after meeting, others take longer, and some will never get on. PDSA warns that two dogs can mean twice the trouble. This guide summarises Dogs Trust’s guidance on introducing dogs, PDSA’s step-by-step guide and an RSPCA pet care factsheet on introducing dogs. It is general welfare information, not a substitute for a qualified trainer or behaviourist. For puppies in particular, see this site’s guide to socialising a puppy, and for other species the guide to introducing a new pet to your household.
Deciding whether a second dog suits the first
PDSA’s starting point is the resident dog’s temperament: if the dog does not like other dogs, a second may not be a good idea, while a dog that enjoys others and is regularly socialised with them may benefit. It advises choosing a dog likely to get along, so an excitable puppy in the face of a relaxed older dog can cause tension, and considering an adult, since puppies cannot join walks until fully vaccinated and may take months to match an older dog’s pace.
Dogs Trust says each dog is an individual and some always prefer their own space, and that an elderly dog may not welcome a bouncy puppy. It recommends advice from a qualified dog behaviourist or trainer before looking for a dog, to help identify a good fit and ease the transition. This site’s guide to dog trainers, instructors and behaviourists explains the roles.
Before the dogs meet
Dogs Trust says both dogs’ vaccinations should be up to date before they meet, because infections can pass between them, and that a puppy remains vulnerable to infection from an existing dog until at least a week after completing its puppy vaccination course. For a purchase from a private seller, it suggests asking whether the dogs can meet on neutral ground before committing.
It also recommends scent swapping: placing a blanket or toy carrying one dog’s scent where the other can investigate it at its own pace, such as in the garden. The RSPCA factsheet makes the same point that scent is an important method of communication, suggesting the new dog should smell of “home” before the introduction. At home, Dogs Trust advises packing away the resident dog’s toys, bedding and bowls on arrival day to avoid competition, then laying out separate areas for each dog to eat, drink and rest after the first hour or two.
The first meeting
All three sources recommend neutral ground. Dogs Trust suggests a park or safe area close to home, with a helper so that each dog has its own handler. Each dog is on a lead, kept focused on its handler, walked separately at a distance, and then gradually brought closer. If both are relaxed they can greet on lead, sniff and then keep moving, repeating if both are comfortable. If either dog shows discomfort, the guidance is to move away and give space, and introductions can be spread over several short sessions across days or weeks.
PDSA describes a graded series: a first meeting at a distance, then a face-to-face greeting with loose leads, walks together, then off-lead play in a secure neutral area, and only then a lead-on meeting at home. The RSPCA factsheet suggests walking the dogs together on longer leads so that handlers are not too close if squabbling occurs, and removing toys or bones before the dogs enter the house.
Bringing the new dog home
Dogs Trust advises that on the first visit indoors both dogs wear indoor leads, or house lines, so they can be separated if needed. Start in a neutral area, not where the resident dog sleeps or in a bedroom, ideally the garden, and avoid narrow spaces and places where there may be competition for resources, such as a feeding area. Interactions should be overseen for the first days and weeks, with the dogs separated by rooms when that is not possible, and each given regular breaks from the other.
PDSA says each dog should have its own space and beds should not be placed together, since that can be intense. Feed the dogs in different rooms so that neither can reach the other’s bowl, and keep the resident dog’s routine as it was. The RSPCA adds that the dogs should not be left alone together until it is obvious they have become friends.
Reading tension
Dogs Trust lists low-level signs of discomfort such as walking away, turning the face away and lip licking; the response is to call one dog away or send each to a bed to increase distance. Barking, lunging or snapping are significant signs: separate both dogs immediately, check for injury and consult a vet if any is found, allow a cooling-off period of hours or days, and consult an accredited trainer or behaviourist before trying again. This site’s guide to dog body language covers the signals in more detail.
FAQs
Should the first meeting happen at home?
No. Dogs Trust, PDSA and the RSPCA all recommend neutral ground first, with the home meeting coming after outdoor meetings have gone well.
Is a puppy or an adult easier to introduce?
PDSA suggests considering an adult, because puppies may take months to match an older dog’s walks. Dogs Trust says puppies need extra supervision because they are still learning social skills.
The bottom line
The three charities agree on a slow, supervised route: judge whether the resident dog enjoys other dogs, ask a qualified trainer or behaviourist early, meet on neutral ground with a handler for each dog, move indoors only after outdoor meetings go well and keep separate food, beds and breaks for the first weeks. Growling, lunging or snapping calls for separation and professional advice, not persistence.
Sources
- Introducing a new puppy or dog to your dog (dogstrust.org.uk)
- Introducing dogs (pdsa.org.uk)
- Introducing dogs, RSPCA companion animals pet care factsheet (rspca.org.uk)