Love of Labs, Indiana (LOLIN)
Making a Difference, One Lab at a Time
Labrador Retriever Rescue in Indiana and Surrounding States
Before bringing a new dog home, be sure all animals are healthy, have current vaccinations and test negative for parasites. Realize that even if the dogs met successfully on neutral turf, things are different when you bring a new dog home. Make sure there's another person at the homecoming so the dogs can meet on-leash outside.
I use the Gentle Leader head collars; my clients call them power steering for dogs. They make a dog feel more calm and safe. The dog slows down and learns quicker. [Particularly for strong dogs] I have an additional collar on for back-up; I attach the leash to both the head halter and the training collar. |
Prior to the introduction, leash-walk the new dog outside. Then bring out the other dog(s) on leash, preferably with choke/slip collars to provide full control. Make sure you are relaxed, so you don't telegraph anxiety through the leash. Avoid keeping the collar pulled tight, since "restraint frustration" elevates tension and the risk of aggression. The dogs will be more relaxed knowing they have some room to maneuver. Watch carefully so you can make a leash correction if necessary.
Make the meeting fun with a walk and some treats (timed to reward good, relaxed behavior). Introduce gradually, making sure the animals are calm. Pet the resident dog, assuring that everything's OK. If it's not OK, suspend introductions and resume the walk. Be careful to reward only good behavior.
Keep the dogs within sight of each other. (For more than two dogs, introduce each to the newcomer one at a time.) If the animals are receptive to each other, praise each one and reward them with treats and petting to show that good things happen when they are together. If there is a negative reaction, move back to the distance at which neither reacted. Watch for warning signs such as fur raised on the back, staring or stiffening up. If one dog reacts aggressively, don't punish the aggressor; instead, take him in a neutral or less valued area to settle down and ignore him. If both dogs act aggressively, remove each to different, neutral areas. Try re-introducing later in the day.
It is essential to use a positive vocal tone at any meeting with another animal or person. People have a tendency to be silent and not express happiness or enthusiasm - yet that is exactly what the dogs need to hear. They need to know that their leaders are confident. |
When correcting unacceptable behavior, timing is critical. Do not wait for the lunge; at the first hint of aggression, such as a stare, correct with a firm "No" and a quick (but not punishing) leash correction, and redirect the dog's attention to you. You must keep control at all times and show the dogs YOU are the alpha. Don't be alarmed if they don't warm up to each other immediately. Either dog may engage in aggressive posturing, barking, marking, housetraining accidents, and possessiveness over toys and people. (If this persists beyond a week or two, consult a specialist.)
When the dogs come inside, a fight could break out, so leave the leashes on for quick control if needed. Keep all toys and treats out of sight until everyone is comfortable. An added advantage to having two people present when introducing dogs is that one can focus on praising each one. However, if you're alone, you can tie one dog's leash to a doorknob or sofa leg at a length that allows the animals to sniff each other at a safe range.
The resident dog might be insecure about his place in the pack. Reassure him, but do not let him misbehave or mistreat the newcomer. Resist the temptation to spoil either dog or to allow bad habits you'll have to break later. Trainers often advise to greet, pet, feed and play with the senior dog first. |
The more socialized both dogs are, the less time it will take for them to become friendly. Try not to be nervous, or your dogs may sense the tension and even defend you from the other dog. To avoid injuries, keep new pets separate from others when you aren't able to supervise. (Some owners find it's best to continue to keep dogs separated at mealtime, and to keep toys off the floor, to prevent fights.) You might crate the newcomer in a family area. Avoid keeping him in a highly coveted area, such as near the other pets' food bowls.
Acclimation can take days or weeks. Be sure to give each pet 10 or 15 minutes of quality time alone with you each day - play, brush, massage, practice rewardable skills. Once the animals react well to each other, remove the leashes. Keep watch, and keep a spray bottle or whistle on hand to interrupt the pets if they begin to stare or otherwise misbehave. Continue rewarding good behavior with praise and kibble. Always let your dogs know what you expect of them, and they'll be responsive instead of confused.
Socialization is critical - and is more than exposing the dog to new experiences. The owner must act as leader in all situations, as the dog will be gauging the owner's reactions. Remain confident and relaxed, which also allows you to be sensitive to cues from the dog. If a dog does not sense his person can handle a situation, he may try to take charge or react in the only way he knows how - which might be barking, growling, lunging or trying to bite in an attempt to control the environment.
* Leader dogs need to know that their owners are better leaders, and flight dogs need to know that they will be protected when their environment scares them.
* To be a true leader, give constant feedback and keep control at all times.
* If a newly adopted dog growls or snaps, realize this is normal. The owners need to assert leadership to convey to the dog that they won't tolerate this behavior. If you back down, or become frightened, your dog gains power over you.
* Seek out an obedience program that focuses on teaching you how to provide leadership, relationship building and problem-solving.
- Melissa Berryman, trainer/counselor
Dogs & Children
Never leave children alone with your dog.
Teach your own and visiting children:
· The proper way to approach a dog.
· Not to rush up to, scream at, or pester a dog.
· Never harass or mistreat a dog. Don't jump on or rough-house with dogs.
· A dog can't whine or cry, so he tells you he's afraid by growling and nipping.
The most common reason so many dogs are returned to shelters is because "something happened" while the adopter/adult was not in the room with the dogs and the children. I cannot stress enough: please use caution. Dogs are not baby-sitters. |
Split up tasks such as feeding, playing and walking with other people in your household so that your dog does not associate positive experiences with only one person. |
Introducing Your New Dog To Your Resident Dog
Animals that live in groups, like dogs, establish a social structure within the group called a
dominance hierarchy. This dominance hierarchy serves to maintain order, reduce conflict
and promote cooperation among pack members. Dogs also establish territories, which they
may defend against intruders or rivals. This social and territorial nature affects their behavior
when a new dog is introduced to their household.
Introduction Techniques
Choose a Neutral Location: Introduce the dogs in a neutral location so that your resident
dog is less likely to view the newcomer as a territorial intruder. Each dog should be handled
by a separate person. With both dogs on a leash, take them to an area with which neither is
familiar, such as a park or a neighbor’s yard. If you frequently walk your resident dog in a
park near your house, she may view that park as her territory, so choose another site that’s
unfamiliar to her. We recommend bringing your resident dog with you to the shelter and
introducing the dogs before adopting the new dog.
Use Positive Reinforcement: From the first meeting, you want both dogs to expect "good
things" to happen when they’re in each other's presence. Let them sniff each other, which is
normal canine greeting behavior. As they do, talk to them in a happy, friendly tone of voice
- never use a threatening tone of voice. Don’t allow them to investigate and sniff each other
for a prolonged time, as this may escalate to an aggressive response. After a short time, get
both dogs' attention, and give each dog a treat in return for obeying a simple command,
such as "sit" or “stay.” Take the dogs for a walk and let them sniff and investigate each other
at intervals. Continue with the "happy talk," food rewards and simple commands.
Be Aware of Body Postures: One body posture that indicates things are going well is a “playbow.” One dog will crouch with her front legs on the ground and her hind end in the air. This is an invitation to play that usually elicits friendly behavior from the other dog. Watch
carefully for body postures that indicate an aggressive response, including hair standing up
on the other dog's back, teeth-baring, deep growls, a stiff legged gait or a prolonged stare.
If you see such postures, interrupt the interaction immediately by calmly and positively
getting each dog interested in something else. For example, both handlers can call their
dogs to them, have them sit or lie down and reward each with a treat. The dogs will
become interested in the treats which will prevent the situation from escalating into
aggression. Try letting the dogs interact again, but this time for a shorter time period and/or
at a greater distance from each other.
Taking the Dogs Home: When the dogs seem to be tolerating each other's presence without
fearful or aggressive responses, and the investigative greeting behaviors have tapered off,
you can take them home. Whether you choose to take them in the same, or different
vehicles, will depend on their size, how well they ride in the car, how trouble-free the initial
introduction has been and how many dogs are involved.
If you have more than one resident dog in your household, it may be best to introduce the
resident dogs to the new dog one at a time. Two or more resident dogs may have a
tendency to "gang up" on the newcomer.
Introducing Puppies To Adult Dogs
Puppies usually pester adult dogs unmercifully. Before the age of four months, puppies may
not recognize subtle body postures from adult dogs signaling that they’ve had enough. Well-
socialized adult dogs with good temperaments may set limits with puppies with a growl or
snarl. These behaviors are normal and should be allowed. Adult dogs that aren’t well
socialized, or that have a history of fighting with other dogs, may attempt to set limits with
more aggressive behaviors, such as biting, which could harm the puppy. For this reason, a
puppy shouldn’t be left alone with an adult dog until you’re confident the puppy isn’t in any
danger. Be sure to give the adult dog some quiet time away from the puppy, and perhaps,
some individual attention as described above.
When To Get Help
If the introduction of a new dog to a household doesn’t go smoothly, contact a professional
animal behaviorist immediately. Dogs can be severely injured in fights, and the longer the
problem continues, the harder it can be to resolve. Conflicts between dogs in the same
family can often be resolved with professional help. Punishment won’t work and could make
things worse.
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LOLIN, INC.
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