Read The Art of Introducing Dogs Online
Authors: Louise Ginman
The Art of Introducing Dogs (12 page)
v) Introducing multiple dogs to a juvenile/dog -On lead
Assistant 1…………………………….
Assistant 2…………………………….
Location ……………………………….
Aim for:
one on one introductions of each dog to the new dog, loose leads, relaxed bodies, focussed on you, dogs taking treats, calm, mild interest in other dog before moving to the next step or before decreasing the distance.
Be aware of:
adding additional dogs too soon or more than one dog at a time when first meeting, tension on leads or in bodies/mouths, failure to take treats or appearing unfocussed or overly interested in other dog.
For multiple dog homes, it is ideal if all the dogs are suitable candidates for introductions to be conducted off leash. If not, the on lead introduction process becomes quite lengthy and has greater risk of not being successful since there are a greater number of dogs to manage. If only one of the dogs needs on lead introduction to the new dog then go back to
appendix A ii
) and complete the exercises for that dog’s introduction. If all of your dogs need on lead introduction then the situation becomes more complex. To simplify the procedure, follow this basic plan.
NB This plan assumes that two existing dogs are being introduced to a new dog. If there are more dogs to be introduced, those additional dogs will need to be added using the same procedure
You will need to refer to
Appendix A ii
) and follow the daily plan
Note durations are shorter per session as this new dog will require greater rest when being introduced to multiple dogs due to increased stress
| Time/date | Action | Tick when Done |
| 2 - 4 weeks before | Remove and wash all toys at home if the dog is coming home at the end of the introductions Take and leave scented items weekly — to familiarise the puppy to each of your dog’s scent and vice versa | |
| Play calming music | ||
| Set up baby gates | ||
| 2 weeks before | Use Rescue Remedy/ flower essences in water or in food | |
| Use ADAPTIL diffuser in house Put ADAPTIL collars on each of your dogs | ||
| Preparation Day | Take all dogs to the introduction area to walk and scent mark so that the area is familiar to all the dogs. Ensure the new dog does not come into contact at all with current dogs Place ADAPTIL collar on each of the dogs | |
| Day 1 60–90 minutes | Begin with your highest status dog (= Dog 1) and the new dog Begin with Day 1 Parallel walking Appendix A ii ) | |
| Day 2 60–90 minutes | Begin with Dog 1 Day 2 Parallel walking Appendix A ii ) After resting the new dog Begin with Dog 2 start at: Day 1 Parallel walking Appendix A ii ) Only complete first 3 distances 50 m, 45 m, 40 m | |
| Day 3 60–90 minutes | Begin with Dog 1 Day 3 Parallel walking Appendix A ii ) Complete the parallel walking section only After resting the new dog Begin with Dog 2 start at: Day 1 Parallel walking Appendix A ii ) Complete last 4 distances 35 m, 30 m, 25 m, 20 m | |
| Day 4 60–90 minutes | Begin with Dog 1 Day 3 begin Dog passing Dog Appendix A ii ) After resting the new dog Begin with Dog 2 start at: Day 2 Parallel walking Appendix A ii ) Complete first 4 distances 30 m, 25 m, 20 m, 19m | |
| Day 5 60–90 minutes | Begin with Dog 1 Day 4 Dog passing Dog with curving Appendix A ii ) Complete all distances up to and including 9 metres After resting the new dog Begin with Dog 2 start at: Day 2 Parallel walking Appendix A ii ) Complete last 4 distances 18 m, 17 m, 16 m, 15m | |
| Day 6 60–90 minutes | Begin with Dog 1 Day 4 Dog passing Dog with curving Appendix A ii ) Complete all remaining distances 8 metres to 2 metres After resting the new dog Begin with Dog 2 start at: Day 3 Parallel walking Appendix A ii ) Complete all remaining distances Begin Dog passing Dog with curving | |
| Day 7 60–90 minutes | Begin with Dog 1 Day 5 Dog passing Dog with curving Appendix A ii ) Complete distances 10 metres to 1 metres After resting the new dog Begin with Dog 2 start at: Day 4 Dog passing Dog with Curving Appendix A ii ) Complete all distances up to and including 9 metres | |
| Day 8 60–90 minutes | Begin with Dog 1 Day 5 Dog passing Dog with curving Appendix A ii ) Repeat distances 10 metres to 1 metres And then move to Advanced Parallel walking beginning at 3 metres apart After resting the new dog Begin with Dog 2 start at: Day 4 Dog passing Dog with Curving Appendix A ii ) Complete all distances from 8 metres to 2 metres | |
| Day 9 60–90 minutes | Begin with Dog 2 Day 5 Dog passing Dog with curving Appendix A ii ) Complete distances 10 metres to 1 metres And then move to Advanced Parallel walking beginning at 3 metres apart After resting the new dog Begin with Dog 1 start at: Day 5 Advanced Parallel walking App ii) beginning at 3 metres apart | |
| Day 10 60–90 minutes | Begin with Dog 1 Start with Advanced Parallel walking beginning at 3 metres apart After resting the new dog Begin with Dog 2 Advanced Parallel walking beginning at 3 metres apart, once walking together add dog 1 beginning at 3 metres apart Walk the 3 dogs together for 15–30 minutes | |
| Day 11 | Proceed to Off lead introductions Appendix vi ) |
vi) Introducing multiple dogs to a juvenile/dog -Off lead
Assistant 1…………………………….
Assistant 2…………………………….
Location ……………………………….
Aim for:
one on one introductions of each dog to the new dog initially, relaxed bodies, calm, casual or mild interest in other dog, mutual sniffing or reciprocal play with periods of rest and calm in between
Be aware of:
tension in bodies/mouths, overly interested in other dog, height seeking behaviours, constant marking over others dogs scent mark while showing tension, over arousal during play, adding additional dogs too soon or more than one dog at a time when first meeting,
For multiple dog homes, it is best if all dogs to be introduced are suitable for off lead introductions. Proceed to off lead introductions only if each dog to be introduced has excellent socialisation skills and is used to meeting unfamiliar dogs off lead and/or they have progressed successfully through
appendix A ii
) and
v
).
NB This plan assumes that two existing dogs are being introduced to a new dog. If there are more dogs to be introduced, those additional dogs will need to be added using the same procedure
| Time/date | Action — Off lead Introduction | Done |
| 2 - 4 weeks before | Remove and wash all toys at home if new dog is coming home at the end of the introductions | |
| Play calming music | ||
| Set up baby gates | ||
| 2 weeks before | Use Rescue Remedy/ flower essences in water or food | |
| Use ADAPTIL diffuser in house Put ADAPTIL collar on your dogs and the new dog if it is coming home with you at the end of the introductions | ||
| Preparation day | Take the new and current dogs separately to the introduction area to walk and scent mark so that the area is familiar to them all. | |
| Day 1 30–60 minutes | Begin with dog 1 and the new dog. Allow each dog to enter area separately to scent mark and relax for 10 - 30 minutes. When both dogs are calm, remove the leads and allow dogs to interact for 20–30 minutes in the off leash area. | |
| Day 2 60–90 minutes | Start with an individual 30 minute walk to relax Dog 1 and the new dog. When both dogs are calm, remove the leads and allow dogs to interact for 30–60 minutes. | |
| Day 3 110 minutes | Start with an individual 20 minute walk to relax Dog 1, Dog 2 and the new dog. When both dog 1 and the new dog are calm, remove the leads and allow dogs to interact for 45 minutes. Remove Dog 1 — take for a walk Bring in dog 2, allow dogs to interact for 20 - 30 minutes. End with a 15 minute walk with all 3 dogs together. Aim to calm and relax the dogs. Do not allow any playing while on lead | |
| Day 4 110 minutes | Start with an individual 10 minute walk to relax each dog. When both dog 1 and the new dog are calm, remove the leads and allow dogs to interact for 50 minutes. Bring in dog 2, allow all 3 dogs to interact for a further 30 minutes End with a 20 minute walk together. Aim to calm and relax the dogs. | |
| Day 5 110 minutes | Start with an individual 10 minute walk to relax each dog. When all dogs are calm, remove the leads from dog 1 and the new dog and allow dogs to interact for 20 minutes. If dogs are calm, bring in dog 2 and allow all 3 to interact for a further 50 minutes End with a 30 minute walk together. Aim to calm and relax the dogs. | |
| Day 6 120 minutes | Start with an individual 5 minute walk to relax each dog. When all dogs are calm, remove the leads from all 3 dogs and allow dogs to interact for 80 minutes. End with a 40 minute walk together. Aim to calm and relax the dogs. | |
| Day 7 120 minutes | Start with an individual 5 minute walk to relax each dog. | |
| Take dogs home today | When all dogs are calm, remove the leads from all 3 dogs and allow dogs to interact for 90 minutes. End with a 30 minute walk together. Aim to calm and relax the dogs. If travelling home by car - Play calming music, spray ADAPTIL in the car and keep dogs separated | |
| AT HOME | Start in front yard — wait till all dogs rest Move to back yard — 2 to 3 hours or until relaxed Move indoors — frequently move to yard to reduce any tension Go for a walk together in the afternoon or evening |
Behavioural or environmental enrichment is simply anything that provides your dog with an activity, item of interest, change in the environment etc. in fact anything that enriches your dogs’ day. Providing enrichment means your dog/s will have less time to be bored, anxious or develop/engage in destructive behaviours’. It is easy and does not have to be expensive as you will see. I provide my dogs with a minimum of three to six different items per day. An important word of warning though -
Always supervise your dog at all times when giving new items to ensure they cannot chew up or ingest the item
.
Choose appropriate items for the ‘chewing’ level of your individual dogs.
Enriching a single dog is easy and fun as you have an entire house or yard to hide the items around. Enriching multiple dogs in a household can be more challenging as it becomes harder to ensure that each dog is receiving the items supplied to them e.g. one dog may run around and use the items faster than the other or be more food motivated and therefore get the greater share of the enrichment.
To minimize the dogs competing for the enrichment items you can train each dog to go to a different area of the yard to find their items. To do this, begin by giving each dog one item daily in a specific area of the yard. For example, dog 1 gets enrichment in the left side of the yard and dog 2 in the right side of the yard. Supervise the dogs to ensure that they stay in their designated area. Once the dogs are used to getting their item in their own area of the yard, begin to increase the number of items given. Continue to supervise daily until you are confident that each dog will remain in their area. Allow for this process to take up to two to three weeks. Naturally, the dogs will begin to wander and check out what the other has once they have finished their own enrichment. Provided that neither dog is a food/resource guarder, there should not be any problem.
Where guarding or hoarding is more of an issue, the use of visual barriers to hide things behind can assist. You can also hammer some wooden stakes into the ground around the perimeter of your yard and attach 1.2 metre long wire rope with clips to tether the enrichment items to the stakes. This prevents your dogs from taking and hoarding items. Space stakes at least 3 metres’ apart. If you have dogs of different abilities and sizes you can take advantage of this also by providing items that a particular dog can use or reach e.g., one of my dogs could rip open cardboard boxes and tetra paks while the other couldn’t. With height differences between the dogs, you can place some items up high so that they are out of reach of the smaller dog. Be creative and think outside the square so that your dogs can be enriched while you are away. Here are ideas for things that you can give your dogs when you go out:
Cardboard boxes
(any size from small to large) - put treats, bones, raw egg, kibble or biscuits inside the box and close box up so dog has to break it open. Hide it around the yard.
Treat balls
— Buy from any pet shop/warehouse. There is a large variety available. Begin with ball on easy setting until your dog has learnt how to get treats out and then make it harder. Can put part of daily kibble ration, treats, broken up biscuits etc. inside the ball. Aim to have at least 6 - 8 different types of treat dispensing balls/toys per dog.
