How to Properly Introduce Your New Pet to Your Furry Family

Bringing home a new pet is always exciting! The idea of making a new addition to your furry family and providing your current pets with another sibling and best friend is just the best. But it’s not always easy. To ensure a harmonious introduction, it’s important to follow a few basic steps that will set your new pet, and your current household, up for success.

As someone who has trained thousands of animals and lives in a multi-pet household, I have the guidance you need to ensure a happy pet-filled home! I am currently doggie sitting as I write this, and following my own tips and tricks, have successfully introduced my household dogs AND cats to the new pups :). If you follow the steps below, I’m sure you’ll be able to do the same.

Introducing Your New Dog to Your Resident Dog

The first thing I suggest doing when introducing your pups, is to take them on a walk together in a neutral space (i.e. away from your house, perhaps on a walk around the neighborhood or at a nearby park). As the pups are on their walk, encourage them to sniff the environment and not obsess over each other.

When the excitement of seeing or being around the new dog has faded away, allow both dogs to sniff each other on loose leashes, being especially careful to not allow the leashes to become taut when they inevitably move around to sniff and explore. Keep the interactions short and positive, always rewarding and praising the pups for their positive interaction.

Once you’ve passed that step, gradually increase the duration and frequency of their interactions as they become more comfortable with each other. Once the dogs have gotten calmer and more accustomed to each other’s presence and smell, bring them inside and keep them separated. Continue to allow short stints of calm and positive interactions with each other. Gradually allow them to share the space inside the home together. Always ensure that the dogs have a safe space to call their own if they need a break from each other. Starting with these steps, and repeating if you have to, should set you up for a successful family dynamic!

Introducing Your New Cat to Your Resident Dog

When you bring a cat into a house with a dog, it's crucial to take things very, very slowly and prioritize safety for both animals. Dogs can occasionally see cats as prey, and when cats are scared they may scratch or bite.

That said, and as a preliminary matter, always provide a safe space for both animals, away from each other, and where they can’t see each other (separate rooms will work well for this purpose). Utilizing gates and leashes will also help keep the process of introducing them safe. Keep your dog on a leash or behind a gate while keeping the cat in a safe separate area.

The first step in this process is to allow your pets to sniff objects that smell like the other. Use praise and treats to help create positive associations with the smell.

After that, gradually allow the cat to explore more space while the dog is contained on a leash or behind a gate, or in a room. Use treats and praise to encourage positive associations with each other, by rewarding them for looking at one another or sniffing each other.

Make sure the cat has plenty of spaces to hide and climb away from the dog, and keep their food and litter box in a space inaccessible to the dog. Reward calm behavior from both pets during supervised introductions, gradually allowing them to interact in short, controlled sessions. Never allow the dog to chase the cat and always supervise their interactions closely and be prepared to intervene if tensions arise.

Introducing Your New Dog to Your Resident Cat

When bringing a new dog into a cat’s space, it’s important to again take things very, very slowly to ensure that the cat does not get overwhelmed and stressed out. Some dogs may be very excited to meet a cat and while they might mean well, it can scare the cat and cause defensive behavior (and some dogs might not mean well). We have to always put the safety of both pets first and let the animal who needs more time set the pace.

Always ensure that your cat has designated space that is safe for them that the dog is not able to access. Providing many high spaces or access to rooms that the dog cannot reach will help the cat feel more comfortable with a new dog in the house. Introducescents of the other animal and reward the pets for interacting with the scent. Allow them to sniff each other under the door and gradually introduce supervised face-to-face interactions, rewarding calm behavior with treats and praise. I like to toss treats to the dog behind a gate while keeping the cat close to me and rewarding the cat for looking at the dog.

Keep the new dog on a leash and reward both pets for being calm around each other. Never force an interaction and allow them to take the time they need. Use a gate to allow them to slowly interact and gradually allow more interaction as long as the pets are not stressed. Always be prepared to separate the pets whenever either of them is stressed and never rush either of them to interact.

Introducing Your New Cat to Your Resident Cat

Cats typically enjoy the company of other cats, but they are very territorial and can sometimes negatively react to a new cat in the home. It’s very important to take cat interactions extremely slow and to safely manage introductions to prevent any territorial conflicts.

Start by keeping the new cat in a separate room with their own resources (food, bedding, litter box, etc.) Exchange their bedding and place treats on the new bedding. You can also use a pheromone diffuser to help both cats feel more comfortable with the new changes. Use a brush or rag to brush both cats and start to combine their scent on the brush. Use treats when the cats are investigating the other’s scent to help create positive associations. Again, take things slowly! It can take a few weeks for cats to become comfortable with each other.

You can put one cat in a closed room and allow them to sniff each other under the door.  If that does not produce or spark any negative reactions, gradually introduce supervised face-to-face interactions, rewarding calm behavior with treats and praise. You can use a gate or mesh barrier like a pen for these first interactions. Make sure that there is 1 litter box per cat to help avoid any conflicts and be prepared to separate them if tensions rise, even slightly.

Finally, always monitor their interactions closely until they become more comfortable with each other's presence.

All in all, it’s important to remember that when introducing a new pet into a home with an established pet (or set of pets), we have to be patient. It can be stressful in the beginning, but you and your pets will reap the benefits of the new family member by introducing them responsibly. Prioritize the safety of all pets involved, and praise all positive interactions. Finally, don’t forget to celebrate the small successes along the way and seek out professional guidance or help if needed.

With some time, patience, and positivity, you can endlessly grow your furry family!

Amber Aquart CPDT-KA