Noah’s Hope: RESCUE 104 – It’s All in the Introduction

One of the most challenging parts of adding a new furry friend to your household is knowing how to introduce him to your resident dog(s). The majority of intros are quite uneventful. The dogs greet each other with tails held high and a whole bunch of sniffing. (Aren’t you glad WE don’t greet each other that way?)

Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy. When some dogs meet, they snarl and snap ferociously and it appears they want to kill each other. Initially this can seem to be a deal breaker. However, this reaction is all part of normal dog behavior. To understand this seemingly aggressive behavior we need to go back in time and consider where they came from. All dog breeds can be traced back to a common ancestor: the wolf.

“Wolf packs are established according to a strict hierarchy, with a dominant male at the top and his mate not far behind. Usually this male and female are the only animals of the pack to breed.” (National Geographic)

The domesticated dogs of today continue to follow this pattern of dominance with the interesting exception of mating being restricted to the alpha couple. And in modern times it is just as likely for a female to be dominant as it is for a male.

“When dogs posture for dominance it can be quite noisy and intense. Scruff biting, snarling and snapping is common, often with the less confident dog running away with its tail between its legs and its hackles raised. These spats are usually short in duration and rarely result in injury.” (northernwilds.com)

So, is there a safer way to introduce dogs? Here is how one successful home visit and introduction went. Mom was instructed to leash Rufus before NHAR arrived with Fifi. As expected, the dogs growled and barked their heads off. After ten minutes or so, Rufus was secured to a post in the fenced backyard. Fifi was then let loose to roam and explore. She would get close to Rufus, then move away, as they both continued to bark and check each other out. Ten minutes later things quieted down and the dogs started wagging their tails. Another ten minutes they were playing. Some intros take longer than others and it is very important to let the dogs set the pace of getting to know each other.

In the end there is usually one dog that is the boss. It may be so subtle that we won’t even notice. We also have a hard time relating, but most dogs don’t have a problem with this pecking order thing. This is why introductions can be chaotic while the pups jostle for position. Don’t worry, they rarely want to hurt each other, and believe it or not – they like it this way.

Noah’s Hope Animal Rescue (and Thrift Store)

2601 Myrtle St.
Sioux City, IA 51103
712-253-8394

Visit our Facebook page or website for more information:

https://www.facebook.com/NoahsHopeAnimalRescue

www.noahshopeanimalrescue.com

Noah’s Hope Animal Rescue is an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. We rescue the underdogs: the old, the sick and injured, the used-up by breeders, the forsaken and misunderstood. We nurse them, bring them back from the brink, and give them another chance. We believe they make the very best pets because somehow, they understand and are grateful.