The goal is to cause the least amount of stress on dogs during an initial introduction.
RULE: Introductions to new pets should always be SLOW and carefully monitored.
Introducing a puppy to your existing dog:
Puppies are usually more apt to defer to your existing dog for cues which can create a very nice dynamic.
Many times the new puppy will pattern their behavior based on what they see the existing dog in the house does. Training becomes much easier and will last a lifetime.
Always be super cautious about how you introduce the puppy to your existing dog (depending on the personality of your dog… only you know how they will react). If your older dog is a super happy-go-lucky kind of guy and doesn’t really care about much, then this is going to be super easy for you. But if your existing dog is sometimes a little bit problematic as far as behavior goes, you might want to introduce these guys really slowly. One thing that you can do right off the bat has put the puppy in a playpen or large dog kennel and let your dog sniff around. Allow them to check each other out in a safe environment. In those cases, it may be just a slow process of getting the older dog accustomed to having another dog in the house.
Introducing a dog to your existing dog:
A very beneficial thing to do when it comes to bringing a new dog home is to introduce the dogs on a “neutral ground”, as dogs like many animals, tend to be somewhat territorial. Introducing dogs in a neutral territory (at a park or something) minimizes that variable. Let them play, let them interact before you bring the new dog home.
