The Art of Introducing Dogs: A Guide for Conducting Dog-To-Dog Introductions

By Louise Ginman

The Art of Introducing DogsA guide for conducting dog to dog introductions.

People add a new dog or puppy to their household often without any planning taking place or consideration of how that new dog or puppy will affect the dynamics of the current family and resident dog/s. The Art of Introducing Dogs looks at a whole range of important considerations before you add a new dog or puppy such as:

The sex or age of the newcomer

Determining play styles of the dogs

Looking at socialisation histories

Established preferences of your dog

The book also looks at how you can assess the new dog or puppy before getting your heart set on it, as well carrying out introductions - whether on or off lead, using neutral territories, crossover of scent, parallel walking, dog passing dog and curving techniques. There is also detailed information on moving from the introduction to living together at home.

An indispensable resource for anyone wanting to perform dog to dog introductions.

For anyone considering getting another dog, The Art of Introducing Dogs is a must have purchase. The book is extremely thorough covering all aspects of second dog ownership from assessing different play styles and levels of socialization to step by step practical introductions expressed in a simple, easy to read style

- Karin Bridge Cert IV CGC instructor Get Smart Dog Training

Louise Ginman has created an invaluable resource for dog-lovers looking to add another member to their canine family. Proper selection and introduction of new family members can go a long way toward ultimate peace in the pack. Be sure you read this book before you adopt, to maximize your new-dog success.

-Pat Miller CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, CDBC, Peaceable Paws

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Aug 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781452510088

Louise Ginman

Louise Ginman is a qualified Dog Behavioural Trainer who runs a dog training business ‘Positive Dogs’ in Sydney, Australia. She has been an Education committee member of APDT Australia Inc. since 2008 and President since 2012. Louise has several qualifications including a Bachelor of Science Degree and Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services. Louise has over 20 years’ experience with both domestic and exotic species in both a training and husbandry/management capacity. Louise worked as a veterinary nurse, dog and cat groomer and animal attendant in a busy and large practice in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney for several years before moving to Taronga Zoo to work in the Animal Presentation Unit. She then moved permanently to the Carnivore Unit where she is the Unit Supervisor. Louise’s experience in introductions of animals spans 18 years. She has implemented introduction plans and successfully introduced species as diverse as Lions, Tigers, Snow Leopards, Kodiak Bears, Sun Bears, Meerkats, Fennec Fox, Asian Wild Dog, Red Pandas, Otters, Binturong, Malayan Tapir, Fishing Cats and Golden Cats. Dogs have always been Louise’s passion and she continues today to educate people about living in harmony with their dog through her writing and pet dog training courses.

Book preview

Copyright © 2013  Louise Ginman

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is for information and educational purposes only. Before implementing any training or introduction program, the assistance of a qualified and competent professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviourist should be sought. The author and Publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.

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ISBN: 978-1-4525-1009-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4525-1008-8 (e)

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The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Balboa Press rev. date: 07/30/2013

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: Getting started—important considerations

Introducing Dogs

Are you and your dog ready for a newcomer?

Types of introductions

Things you need to consider

Play styles are important

Socialisation history

Socialisation in puppy hood

Bite inhibition

Does your dog or the new dog have good

or excellent bite inhibition?

Fight to bite ratio

Dog preferences

Assessing the new dog or puppy

Preparation for you before you get started

Chapter 2: Performing the introduction

How to do the introduction

Begin on neutral territory

Crossing over of scent

The ‘Off lead’ introduction

The ‘On lead’ introduction

Do the introductions over several days

Walking side by side

Chapter 3: A new dog at home

Preparing to take the dogs home

Preparation

Keeping stress levels low

Settling the dogs at home

Leaving the dogs home alone

A home alone schedule

Preparation for being home alone together

Know when to abandon or rehome

Case studies

In summary—take home messages

Resources

Appendix A

i) Introducing a puppy to an adult or juvenile dog

ii) Introducing adults or juvenile dogs—On lead

iii) Introducing adults or juvenile dogs—Off lead

iv) Introducing multiple dogs to a puppy

v) Introducing multiple dogs to a juvenile/dog—On lead

vi) Introducing multiple dogs to a juvenile/dog—Off lead

Appendix B

Enrichment ideas

Sample enrichment schedule

About the Author

For Mekari and Finley

The love and light of my life

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Preface

This book began as a simple article on the subject of introducing dogs to each other. The original request for an article came about through the Rescue Branch of the Siberian Husky Club of NSW. The article would help owners and foster carers to integrate a new dog into their doggie family. When I began writing the article, the more I wrote, the more I realised I needed to write to explain all of those things that we, as dog trainers or professionals subconsciously or consciously seek out about the dogs in order to first decide if a dog to dog introduction is feasible and also how best to conduct the introduction, based on each dogs previous history. The article soon exceeded normal article length and as Karin Bridge so nicely pointed out to me—no one is going to publish an article of this size unless you do some very serious editing. So the idea of a book began.

I have been blessed in my life that I have worked with both domestic and non-domestic canids. I began my animal career as a veterinary nurse, kennel hand and dog/cat groomer. Back then, my knowledge about behaviour and training was in development. I had so much to learn but was well on my way by the time I moved to Taronga Zoo in 1994. I thought I knew a lot about domestic dogs by then but moving to the Zoo, a whole new world of canids opened my eyes to how little I really did know. I still had another 34 species to learn about, let alone all the other carnivores large and small that I was now working with. This year, marks my 19th year at Taronga Zoo in Sydney Australia. I love my job and the team of people I work with both directly and indirectly. Some of the most amazing people work at Taronga and I have learnt so much from them.

With my overwhelming drive for knowledge, I began visiting University libraries on my days off work to look up scientific papers that would increase my knowledge of the species I was now caring for. Eventually I would go to University to get my Bachelor of Science degree which I did over 6 years while working fulltime. In my first few years as a keeper, I had embarked on some exciting projects with wild dogs and Snow Leopard breeding. I was involved in the breeding of Sumatran Tigers, Meerkats, Fennec Fox, Red Pandas and Otters. I was also put in charge of hand rearing 2 lion cubs and am still privileged to still be caring for the male Lion that I reared, a very handsome fellow he is. Later in my career, the list of species and individuals that have successfully bred and reared their young in my care has grown. The carnivore unit at Taronga Zoo has high level animal husbandry and management skills built on a strong foundation of knowledge.

When working with animals in a zoo environment, keepers rarely get to choose what animals will be paired for breeding. The choosing is done by species co-ordinators and curators. Breeding animals may come from another Zoo in Australia or overseas. Either way, we often only learn about the animals’ previous history once they have arrived. The whole process of moving animals between Zoos is a lengthy one, taking many months and sometimes years before permits or the required paperwork have been obtained, quarantine requirements met and transport arrangements made. Then, once the animal arrives, it may takes days, weeks or months to settle that individual into their new environment. Once all that is done, it’s then time to introduce them to their new mate or family.

Solitary species like cats are generally only ever introduced to a cat of opposite sex. With social species, the animal/s to be introduced may be paired with a single individual or a single sex group e.g., two male Meerkats may find themselves being introduced to a group of females or vice versa. One of the most vital ingredients of a successful introduction is ensuring that you have good knowledge of the social structure of the species in the wild, using that as your template. It is when you go against nature that you can run into trouble. Try putting a male Meerkat or Small Clawed Otter into a family group that already contains males and you can almost guarantee severe fighting and