Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i want to get a new dog, a golden mix who is a 3 year old female. I already have an 8yr old fixed male, rther large dog. Any advice? My dog hasn't been around other dogs for about 6 yrs.

Hi!

Congreytulations on the new dog! Does your current dog normally get along well with other dogs? If so, I thinkyou'll go just fine with a female added to your family.

Best way to introduce them is away from the house. Have the dogs meet out on the street, leashed. Let them sniff and get to know one another, then bring them home together. I've found that works well in introducing new housemates. You may need to keep them separated for a while in the house, especially when no one is home until you know for sure that they will be ok together.

Keep us posted on how it goes!

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Melody/PHFasDog
Email me at PHFasDog
My furkids: Kira, Lyta, Jadzia

>>i want to get a new dog, a golden mix who is a 3 year old female. I already have an 8yr old fixed male, rther large dog. Any advice? My dog hasn't been around other dogs for about 6 yrs.>>>

Give him a chance to get a good sniff before they start to interact with each other. Maybe take them for a walk together, one person handling each dog so you can control their distance from each other. Chances are when he realizes she is a female, he will say the doggy equivalent of "HEL-LO, you cute thing, where have you been all my life!?" With male/female, he gets to be top male and she gets to be top female. It's generally a happy situation for them both.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com