Choosing Pets Who Can Live Together

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Dog - New Pet

Choosing Pets Who Can Live Together

There are ways to help your new pet get along with your other furry friends.

The last thing you want is your fuzzy "first-born" raking her claws across your new puppy's nose. So do some homework and plan ahead so you have a good idea about how your current pet will react to the newcomer.

For example, you can borrow a neighbor's or friend's dog for a few days to test the waters. (Keep in mind your new dog's personality will be different from the borrowed dog, and your old pets may react differently.)

Ready to take the plunge? The following tips can help you pick pets who get along.
Coexisting With Cats

Forget the cartoons. Cats and dogs can live together happily under the right circumstances. But, don't expect your adult cat to warm up to a new dog overnight. Cats are creatures of routine, and bringing a new dog into your home may upset your finicky feline in a major way. Teaching your dog to respect the cat's boundaries will help.

Kittens can be more accepting. They may even like the dog. So the ideal situation is to get a puppy and a kitten at the same time.

When you make the introductions, keep your dog leashed and make sure the cat has an escape route. Hold the leash firmly as they sniff each other. If your dog remains calm, you can drop the leash, but be ready to grab it if he makes a move on your cat. "Don't chase the cat" is one rule your new dog must learn immediately.

For the first few weeks, keep your dog on a leash when he's near the cat. Remember, the kitty isn't the only one at risk. A quick-draw kitty paw slashed across the face can deliver a nasty corneal scratch or sliced nose.

Getting in Good with a Dog

Adult dogs usually accept puppies easily because they don't see the little one as a threat. The situation can be different if you bring an adult dog into your fold. The outcome depends on the personalities, breeds and sex of the dogs, so it's hard to know ahead of time how it will work out.

Most female dogs and neutered males will accept another female. But you're practically guaranteed territorial battles if you bring home a new, intact male dog to meet your unneutered male. Also avoid mixing two aggressive or dominant personalities or breeds.

Make the introductions in neutral territory - a park or playground makes a good meeting ground. Keep both dogs leashed and hold them firmly. You can help reduce your first pet's jealousy by asking a friend to hold the new dog's leash. If the dogs get along, go home and repeat the procedure. If both dogs remain calm, you can release the leashes and allow them to interact with supervision.

When you feed the dogs on the first day, put them in different rooms. The next day, feed them in the same room but at opposite ends. Gradually move them closer at feeding time until they're eating together in harmony.

Even if your dogs seem fine together, separate them when you leave home during the first few weeks in case they become aggressive. And, make sure you offer treats to both pets at the same time to keep them from getting jealous of each other.

Little Critters

Many dogs have a natural instinct to hunt smaller creatures, so you probably shouldn't introduce Rover to your bird, rabbit or other small pet. Instead, keep Tweety and Bugs isolated from the new dog and make sure your pets' cages are secure. If months go by and your dog doesn't show any interest in roughing up the smaller pets, you can consider changing the rule.