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when bring a new dog home what r u doing with the dog with your other dogs do you just throw them in the box and let them figure it our or what? keep them separate for a bit. I kennel all my dogs together and just wondering how you guys go about handleing a new dog

let them meet each other loose in the yard before you stuff them in the box . you should see if anybody has a issue with new dog that way

I would probably crate the new dog and let all of the other dogs out to see the crate. Give them an hour or so like this to let the dogs calm down and get used to seeing each other. I would then leash the new dog and take it out of the crate. I'd walk around the yard with the new dog leashed for a bit and again let the dogs get used to each other in that surrounding. The final step would be to let the new dog off of the leash to run loose with the rest of them.

I would keep him leashed and let everyone loose and when they come to meet the new guy pet them once everyone has got a good butt sniff turn him loose. Keeping him close on a leash makes sure you'll know who has the additude issue. Cramping new dogs in a box is a good way to get somebody whipped.

Lance,
You are right, there is nothing like a good "butt sniff" to get things going right LOL

Must be you guys hunt with a bunch of alligators, I have numerous times thrown strange dogs into my box and other guys my dogs into there boxes and never had a problem. I also have a zero tolerance of fighting or growling in the box.

I agree I have no tolerance for growling in the box, I've made it very well known among my hounds that I'll be the only one growling and that's their first and only warning. Now in the yard If I bring new dog around I keep it leashed and let my dogs get a sniff before I unsnap, not for the sake of my dogs causing an issue but more so the new dog causing an issue and if an issue pops up i correct it then and there. I don't normally have any issues.

I agree with what has been said would just add the dogs are reading you also so it shouldn't be a big deal to add a new dog so don't let your bod language say so either

Dholister, no alligators here. But one thing to keep in mind is just cause you've never been in a car wreck don't mean it can't happen.

bearsnva, I might be wrong but did you swap some pups out here in Idaho?

The biggest thing to remember is to be in control of the situation.

LBell wrote:
The biggest thing to remember is to be in control of the situation.

My thoughts exactly. If you aren't in a rush, why not take your time with the introduction just to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Lance,
No sir, I have never done any dog dealing in Idaho. All the dogs I have have come from Virginia.

My mistake.

A lot of times a new dog is tired and nervous after a long trip. You don't want all the old dogs surrounding it and making it feel defensive. Depends how many dogs you have to begin with, but if you have quite a few, letting them meet and greet in a situation where there's enough room to avoid each other and only one or two old dogs in with the new one at once eases tensions. Also, letting the new dog eat and rest up before meeting a lot of old dogs also helps.
I also like to observe how mine behave in the dog box. I have one that is harmless but restless in the box. I don't throw him in with strange dogs because perfectly nice dogs are annoyed by his moving around all the time and get grouchy. Dogs that know him are fine with him. He's pretty submissive and doesn't mean to be a pain in the ass, he just is.

Plenty of dogs that aren't grouchy hunting are suspicious of a new dog at home. JMO, but with a new dog, the real discussion about rank in the pack takes place a couple of days in, when the old dogs are sure the new one isn't just visiting. Most of the time, the discussion happens just once, unless there's a teenager in the pack looking to challenge the existing order. But perfectly sound dogs will put a challenger in its place at least once, and sometimes it draws blood--usually something vulnerable like an ear--nothing a little supervision won't take care of.
Plus, puppies can be annoying, and an older dog may tell off a pup just past six months, when it no longer gets a pass for a being a pup. Pups rarely get bitten, but the older dogs often make a lot of scary noise at a six or seven month old.

duck duck goose wrote:I would probably crate the new dog and let all of the other dogs out to see the crate. Give them an hour or so like this to let the dogs calm down and get used to seeing each other. I would then leash the new dog and take it out of the crate. I'd walk around the yard with the new dog leashed for a bit and again let the dogs get used to each other in that surrounding. The final step would be to let the new dog off of the leash to run loose with the rest of them.

+1 sounds like a good introduction.