| ign="center"> | | | | pointers as to what you SHOULD do when you |
| It was November and I had spent 3 months | | | | introduce your newpuppy to your resident pet. This |
| searching for just theright puppy. Finally we had | | | | information comes from researchdone concerning |
| found what we considered to be theperfect one. | | | | raising a puppy, unfortunately the how to |
| Luckily she was already 7 weeks old so she | | | | introduceguidelines would have been much more |
| couldalready be separated from her mother. I was so | | | | beneficial if found BEFORE theactual deed was done. |
| excited when webrought her home, our new addition | | | | Firstly the introduction must be done slowly. If |
| to the family. I made sure I hadall the required | | | | possible take atowel and rub the new puppy with it |
| supplies; food and water dishes, food, a bed and | | | | then bring it home and put itsomewhere that your |
| acrate. We were ready. The fact that we already | | | | resident pet will frequent and be able to smell. |
| had a cat neverreally caused me much concern. I | | | | This will also work if you take something that has |
| figured they would give each othera good sniff and | | | | the scent of yourexisting pet on it and put it in the |
| surely it would not take long for them to become | | | | carrier you bring your new puppyhome in. When you |
| thebest of friends and live happily ever after. I had | | | | first bring a new animal into your home she |
| visions of ourlittle puppy all curled up with our cat in | | | | shouldstay quarantined from the other animals until it |
| front of the fireplace. | | | | has seen the vet. |
| Reality hit when I walked into our house carrying a | | | | Once she has seen the vet you will still need to keep |
| crate with ournewest family member inside. Our dog | | | | her separatefrom the other animals. Allow the animals |
| is a female so I will use shewhen referring to a dog. | | | | to smell the new puppyfrom under the door so they |
| The cat seemed a little curious so in amoment of | | | | may become to each other. After a fewdays to a |
| obvious brain freeze I took the puppy out of the | | | | week you can try the introduction but make sure |
| crate tointroduce the two. Our cat in a split second | | | | you areclose in case you have to take on the roll of |
| armed herself forbattle. The hair was straight up | | | | referee. If there issome growling or paw raising don't |
| making her look like I had justtaken her out of the | | | | interfere unless of course youfeel your puppy is in |
| dryer and she started hissing and growling as ifher | | | | danger. If your puppy is being crate trainedyou can |
| opponent was a rottweiler rather than a puppy that | | | | put her back in the crate and continue to take her |
| could fit inmy hand. The poor puppy could barely | | | | out forshort intervals to spend time with the other |
| walk so she just fell into aball and shivered and | | | | animal. Make sure theamount of time you let them |
| whimpered. I'm sure that as soon as we removedthe | | | | spend together is increased gradually. |
| dog and put her back in her crate, the cat went to | | | | Most importantly never leave the two animals alone |
| her bed andstated plotting a way to have the new | | | | and be sure toflood the resident animal with love and |
| puppy just suddenly "disappear"like getting flushed | | | | attention so they feel securein their place in the |
| down the toilet. She considered herself to bethe | | | | family. This will greatly reduce the risk ofhaving the |
| queen of the household and it was obvious that | | | | new puppy take a whirl in the toilet. If you want |
| there was going tobe a battle for the crown. Boy | | | | allanimals to live in harmony you have to be patient |
| had I called this meeting wrong! Inan attempt to help | | | | and let the animalsdeal with each other in their own |
| you avoid a similar situation I'm going to outlinea few | | | | way and on their own time. |