Multi-Dog Family
by Loalea Underwood

A new dog should be introduced in a neutral area that will avoid challenging the resident pack.

Allow the dog to investigate the inside and outside of your home. You might want to walk the dog on an “introduction tour” of your house.

Keep the new dog close to you while you go about your routine until you see that the dog is relaxing and showing less stress.

Your resident pack will be canine ambassadors for the new dog if you remain consistent with your routine and expectations. Your ambassadors will work their canine magic!

Feeding times should be quiet and free of challenges. 

Here are some suggestions that have worked well for us:

A. Each dog has its own eating area/station. Other dogs are not allowed to share the area at feeding times.

B. Each dog has its own feeding bowl. No one is allowed access to another dog’s bowl.

C. Each dog has to be given a “signal” to begin eating when the bowl is placed in front of the dog. The “Alpha” human owns the bowl---not the dog.

D. When the dog walks away from the food bowl it is picked up. There is no returning to the bowl to finish what was

left (prevents guarding or possessive behavior).

E. The dog must go directly outside upon walking away from the food bowl (prevents interest/interference with the other dogs who may still be eating).

One of us is always present until the last dog is finished eating. We have found that our Alpha presence seems to help relax the dogs while they are eating. It might be due to the dogs not having to be on the alert because the Alpha is watching over them.

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Your consistency during the feeding times will help prevent any unwanted negative behavior. Once your new dog is fully inte- grated with your resident pack, you should not have to deal with aggression or other unwanted behaviors. Until the new dog is a member of the pack you will have to monitor meal times and treats and never leave the dogs alone until the food is completely eaten.