Adopting a large dog: Small dog, fence jumping, and kennel training?

Adopting a new dog is so much fun! Whenever bringing a new dog into the home, it should be done slowly with the existing animals already there to make the transition smoothly. The new dog should be kept separated from the other animals when home alone to avoid any problems, and their interactions should be monitored when you are home so you can separate them at any problem. I'm not sure if you have any additional animals in the home, but if you have cats for example, it's normal they will hiss at the dog. Do not allow them to swipe at the dog, separating them right away if you notice the cat getting upset. Also do not allow the dog to chase the cats. If you don't have any other animals in your home, then just be patient with the dog as it acclimates to his new house. Moving into a new home can be stressful, and some dogs may not eat or drink at first. This will pass in time. Shelter dogs should be taken care of just like any other dog: Fed twice a day, make sure they are up to date on their vaccines, flea and deworming treatments, and feed them a high quality dog food :-)

Good for you for doing your homework before bringing home a buddy for Bella Donna! When you bring a second dog into your home, the sex of the dog matters less than their individual temperament. Since Bella Donna is a mellow pup, she might do better with another middle-aged or older dog rather than an energetic puppy. Some small breed dogs are little bundles of energy, like most terriers. I think that the most important thing to do before bringing home a new dog is to have Bella Donna meet any prospective new dog on neutral territory before bringing them home. Many rescues will also allow you to foster a new dog for a few days before officially adopting them to test the waters with other pets at home. I hope this helps and that Bella Donna enjoys the company of her new friend!

This can be a problem. As Karma is a young dog I recommend taking her to an obedience training class. As she learns to obey commands that will help. If she's food motivated you can work with her in the yard on a leash and ask her to sit when you see a person or dog coming. When she watches you praise her and give her lots of treats for the good behavior. Offering an appropriate thing to do that you can praise her for is more effective than yelling at her or physical punishment. Also taking her for long walks or playing ball until she's tired will reduce the behavior. I'm sure part of it is from having excess energy which will improve as she ages. I would put her in the yard at times when there is less distraction so this doesn't become a habit. If you need help please talk with a local dog training who can work with you to prevent this behavior. Be patient it takes time to develop a well behaved dog. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Karma.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Marley. Congratulations on her adoption! You can try a couple of things to improve her behavior. A simple solution is to crate her or to keep her in a separate area of the house when company arrives. Then let her out after everyone is settled and keep her on a leash to control any jumping. I have found it more successful though to work on obedience training. Ensure that she knows how to sit. When company walks in, ask her to sit. Again, keep her on a leash while she is learning to control the jumping. Once she sits, provide her with a very high value treat that she only gets when someone comes over. You can use a food puzzle toy, rawhide or anything that will be time consuming for her to consume. The goal is for her to anticipate the treat, sit when someone comes in and then take the treat to go enjoy by herself. Good luck!

What cuties!!! I would honestly be less worried about bringing a friendly adult dog into your house than a puppy because puppies can be overwhelming to adult dogs who are not used to them. They are hyper and jump and bite/chew on adult dogs and some dogs do not respond favorably to this (others are find and will give the puppy warnings or love playing with them). A great option in these cases is asking if you can do a trial run/foster for the new dog to see if they get along with your dog. This gives you a little time to make a decision. If your dog has been around other dogs without issue and this dog gets along with other dogs, then it is definitely worth a try! Make sure your current dog has the ability to get away from this dog if it is annoying/pestering her, do not leave them alone together initially, and feed them in separate areas so there is no fear of competition for food. Give your dog lots of praise and treats when she meets the new dog. Sometimes meeting on a neuteral ground can be helpful if your dog is defensive of your home. I would also consider getting an Adaptil collar or diffuser which can help both dogs with any anxiety https://www.adaptil.com/us/Products/ADAPTIL-Calm-On-the-go-Collar

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tank. Congratulations on adopting him and giving him a better life! I recommend enrolling him in a basic obedience class. It will help socialize him to other animals and people as well as give you guidelines for training him at home. The consistency of going weekly helps keep both of you on track as well. Best of luck!

All dogs need space to exercise and access to both physical and mental stimulation, unless you are able to take them out at least 4-6times a day a fenced garden really is recommended for any medium-large breed in order to limit boredom and destructive behaviors. I really would not recommend any retrieving/herding breeds (labradors/spaniels/collies etc) for such an arrangement but an older sight hound such as a retired greyhound which has been used to a kenneling routine and limited periods of controlled exercise would be expected to adapt quite well as long as you have the time for daily exercise and frequent toilet breaks