Introduction

Introducing a new pet into your home can be stressful for everyone, especially if you’re lucky enough to have two or more pets. The good news is that there are easy ways to avoid fights and help your pets get along better than ever before. Here are ten of the most common mistakes people make when bringing home a new pup or kitty:

Keep your pets in different rooms when they first meet.

When introducing pets, it’s important to keep them separated for at least the first few days. This will allow each pet time to adjust and learn about their new home without having to worry about the other animal.

It’s also a good idea not to let them see or smell each other until they are ready. You don’t want them getting excited and wanting to play when they meet, because this may lead to fighting. If you do let them see or smell each other, be sure there is some kind of barrier between them that prevents direct contact like double doors or an escape-proof enclosure (like a crate).

If your dog becomes aggressive towards the cat while they are meeting face-to-face through a barrier, help your dog by separating him from the cat until he calms down again; however make sure that if he gets too excited during this process that you don’t let him get away with attacking his new friend!

Introduce them to one another in a neutral environment.

When introducing pets to one another, it’s best to avoid the possibility of any fighting. To do this, you should introduce them in a neutral environment where neither has been before. This will help reduce territorial aggression and reduce stress on your pets so they are more likely to interact positively with each other.

If possible, take your pets somewhere neither one has been before (a park or dog park), or take them both out for a walk together on leash — this can provide opportunities for friendly sniffing without any fighting!

Let them sniff each other through a barrier.

Let them sniff each other through a barrier.

The most important thing to do when introducing pets is to let the dogs see and smell each other, but not immediately. You can set up an “introduction area” where they can both get used to the smells of one another without being able to fight or chase each other. Set up a barrier between them and keep them separated until they’ve both gotten comfortable with their respective scent in the space. This could include:

• A screen door or window
• A gate that blocks off access into another room (but doesn’t close all the way)
• A crate for either dog on its own side with plenty of toys inside for distraction
• An enclosure outside—an outdoor pen, wooden fence, etc.—that surrounds both dogs without letting one escape from view

Give them time to adjust before leaving them alone.

Not giving them time to get used to each other.

It’s important for you and your pets to spend time together, so don’t leave the two alone until they are comfortable with each other. It is also a good idea not to leave them alone together unless you are there as well. This way, they will have no choice but to interact and hopefully create a friendship that lasts long after you’ve moved on!

Introduce them on a walk.

• Take them on a walk together.
• Keep them on leash and separate, so they can’t get into a fight or cause any damage to property in the home.
• Let them sniff through a barrier, like a gate or door frame. This gives them time to get used to each other’s smell without being able to attack each other.
• If you have more than one dog, it might be easier to introduce them in stages as well—first let one of your dogs meet the new pet (on leash), then bring out another at a later date (again on leash).

Expect some rivalry

• Expect some rivalry. You might find the new pet getting jealous of the attention you give your old pet, or jealous of toys or food that belong to the old pet (and vice versa). Sometimes there is a clash of personalities—the two pets may be from different breeds and have different temperaments, leading one animal to feel threatened by the other.

Feed your dogs in separate rooms at first.

Even if you’re able to keep your pets separated, it can be beneficial to feed them separately at first. This will help prevent fights over food and space, as well as reduce the likelihood that one of your dogs will be injured by another dog’s teeth during an altercation over a bone or piece of rawhide.

You may also want to feed your dogs in different rooms so that they don’t have access to each other until after they’ve been introduced. This doesn’t mean that you have to separate them completely; however, it does allow for a safer transition period where each dog isn’t being forced into close proximity with another newcomer before being properly acclimated with each other’s scents and behaviors.

Teach your new cat or dog where the bathroom is, but keep it away from the other pets’ area for a few days.

Next, you should teach your new pet where to go to the bathroom. If it’s a new cat, this is especially important because cats are more likely than dogs to become territorial and aggressive with your other pets if they get scared or feel cornered.

You can also set up a litter box for your new pet and make sure that it knows how much space it has in which to do its business. Keep the cat away from your dog’s food bowl and sleeping area for at least a few days after bringing her home so she doesn’t try to stake out these areas as her territory.

Also make sure that the new animal (and any other animals in your house) do not sleep with you or eat food off of plates with shared utensils when there are other animals around; this may lead them to think they’re part of one pack rather than separate ones with their own territory issues!

Make sure each pet has a safe place to go if they want to get away from the other pet.

You should make sure each pet has a safe place to go if they want to get away from the other pet.

If you are introducing two dogs, one of them might be intimidated by the other one and not want to be around them. If this happens, it’s important that they have a place where they can go if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable with the other dog being around. This will help both pets feel more comfortable in your home because they aren’t surrounded by people or animals all day every day (which can lead to stress).

Having another pet can be stressful on your existing pets, so do what you can to make the adjustment as smooth as possible.

• Make sure the new pet is healthy.
• Make sure the new pet is vaccinated.
• Have the new pet spayed or neutered before bringing it home, if possible. This can help prevent fights from happening because your dog will be less aggressive towards another female in heat and more likely to chase after males that may wander into his territory.
• Microchip both pets, have their rabies vaccinations up to date, and make sure they are licensed with your city or county’s animal control department before bringing them both home together!

Conclusion

If you follow these tips and take things slowly, your new pet will likely be a welcome addition to your household. It takes time for pets to get used to one another, so let them sniff each other through a barrier or on walks before bringing them together in one place. The more time they spend together in a safe environment where they’re not stressed out about meeting new friends, the quicker they’ll learn how much fun it can be!