Adding another dog to your household - few tips

We all love dogs and if you’re like most folks who own dogs, sooner or later you may think, that as wonderful as one dog is, having two dogs would be even better. There are many reasons to add another dog as new family member but you should also remember that there are reasons to not have another animal - like more vet bills, more food and toys to buy, etc
However if you decided to have another dog, here are some advice how to introduce him to your current pet.

First of all you should make sure that your first dog is dog-friendly. If you don’t already know that take him to the dog park, find a friend with a very dog-friendly dog and introduce your dog to another dog in a safely fenced neutral territory. If your dog won't be very friendly towards other dog you need to find a good, positive trainer/behavior consultant to help you convince your pet.

Next thing to consider is which dog should you select as a second one. If your current dog is very assertive, adding another similiar breed could be very bad idea. In such situation you need to look for a dog who defers to your first dog. Moreover, size of the new dog needs to be taken into account. If you have a three-pound mini-dog, there are inherent risks in adopting a large-breed dog. Even in play, big dogs can cause serious, sometimes fatal, injuries to toy-size canines.

If you already chose your new pet, you need to script his introductions. Set up your introductions in that safely fenced neutral territory, like on a short walk through your neighborhood, in a nearby park or in a friend’s yard. Have 2 people, one to handle each dog, while keeping the dogs on leashes.
To minimize tension, try to keep the dogs’ leashes loose so that they’re not feeling pressure on their throats.
Don’t force any interaction between the dogs. If the dogs ignore each other at first, or if one dog seems reluctant to interact with the other, that’s okay. Give both dogs time to get comfortable. They’ll interact when they’re ready.

Here are some things you shouldn't do during first introduction - don't introduce a puppy to a grown dog by holding him in your arms. The puppy could feel restrained and vulnerable. Don't let a grown dog walk over, knock down, or bully the puppy. Moreover don't confine dogs together in a crate, automobile, or small room until they are fully at ease with each other and never, ever don't let a fight between two dogs go on.

Last but not least, make sure that both of your dogs have enough toys to go around, food to eat and separate comfy beds located in low-traffic areas of the home.