It’s all roses and sunshine: two dog lovers meet at the dog park. They spend more and more time together, they bond, and they fall in love. Things are going so well that the couple decides to move in together to make their family complete. While it sounds wonderful, the dynamics of this new family may need some work to keep the dogs out of the doghouse.
The initial days are the most important when two new pets move in together, not unlike when adopting a puppy or kitten or adding an older pet to the family. Developing a schedule will help to ease the dogs into the transition. It should be established when the dogs will be let outside and inside, and who will do this task. Consistency will help the dogs establish a pattern together.
The same goes for feeding. When establishing a feeding schedule, care should be taken during feeding time to ensure that the dogs can eat in the vicinity of each other without being territorial. If they are territorial, this problem could spread to other areas like toy possession, furniture, and even sleeping arrangements. Territorial issues need to be addressed right away, so both parties need to discuss disciplinary actions ahead of time in order to be on the same page when it comes to dealing with bad behavior.
Frequent exercise and play time will help the dogs establish a bond with each other, if one hasn’t been established before the move. Outdoor exercise is a good option because the lawn works as a neutral zone. Indoors, there will be areas and beds and toys to fight over. The combination of burning off energy and playing in a neutral area will help the dogs get used to each other and strengthen their bond.
What happens if the dogs just won’t get along? If that’s the case, it might be time to get some help. There are numerous books, videos, and even television shows about dog training. Many of these are available at local libraries. Another option is contacting a dog trainer, or attending behavior classes at a local pet store. Even though there might be some growing pains when two pups enter a new environment, there are many ways to create a peaceful and harmonious household for a happily ever after.
This article was written by My Pet Saving’s contributor Melissa. She has a master’s degree in creative writing, owns several pets and runs her own online pet magazine. To learn more about this author check out the contributor profile page.
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