How to Introduce a Foster Dog to Your Dogs

Wild dogs reside in packs and create a social structure within the group known as a dominance hierarchy. The dominance hierarchy helps maintain peace and prevents conflict between the pack members. Dogs also have zones, which they defend against predators or rivals. Their deep-rooted instincts affect their behavior when a new puppy is brought into the family. Making the right introduction is vital to the success of a positive bond between the dog you have with the foster. Fostering is a fantastic opportunity to test whether your dogs can get along with another pet.

Introduction techniques

If you own more than one pet in your home, it is recommended to introduce the dogs you already have to the foster dog one at one time. The dogs in the same household may be inclined to join over the new puppy. This guide will teach you how to introduce foster dogs to your pets:

Choose a neutral location

The shelter is ideal for you to meet the new foster before bringing them home. It’s a neutral place to meet that makes building a relationship between the dog you have adopted and your new foster much easier. A different person must handle each dog. After you have brought your foster home, ensure that the dogs on a leash and ensure that you do not allow them to be left alone until you’ve seen how they behave in this new environment. The most important thing is to take it slow and keep a to ensure that both dogs are at ease with each other.

Positive reinforcement

The dogs may start their interactions with a sniff. Use a soft accent to assure them that everything is fine. Reward them with tasty sweets and calm voices.

Take note of the body language

Body language is among the most effective ways to determine the interaction flow. If the ears are floppy or the tails are pulled down or stiff, the faces appear stiff, or the lips appear to be pulled back, that indicates something wrong. On the other hand, if their ears are straight, their tails are tucked in and relaxed, and their faces are relaxed, then they’re doing well! Another positive indicator could be the”play-bow,” where one dog sits on their backs with both feet firmly on the ground and their back legs raised. This is a signal to play, which usually leads to friendly behavior by the dog in front of them.

Things to consider before introducing a foster dog in your home

The adoption agency will typically offer you the necessities such as:

Information about the pet or medical history sheet

Leash and collar

Medical advice and any prescribed food or medicine (if required)

Identification tags as well as rabies tags (if relevant)

Also, you will require an enclosure or crate to keep your foster dog from the dogs in your home.

Find out the breed of your dog or the pet’s

For the first two days (sometimes longer), the pet’s lifestyle must be as simple as it will allow them to adjust. Since dogs are territorial, it’s essential to establish the boundaries of each dog. Every dog should have its cages, food as well as water dishes, as well as distinct toys.

Feed them into various areas within the home

Dogs are very territorial about their food. They can be aggressive when they fear eating food from another dog. This is why feeding your pet and your foster dog in separate areas in your home is recommended to avoid conflicts over food.

The introduction of dogs and cats

Like introducing foster dogs into your pet, there’s also a recommended method to introduce a foster pet to the cat household and take a kitten home.