Introducing a New Puppy or Rescue Dog:

Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Introducing a new dog requires careful planning and patience. Learn how to prepare your home, introduce your new dog to existing pets and family members, and help everyone adjust successfully.

---

Introduction

Bringing a new puppy or rescue dog home is exciting, but it requires careful planning to help everyone adjust successfully. A poorly managed introduction can create conflict, stress, and behavioral problems that last years. This comprehensive guide walks you through every step of introducing your new dog to your home and family members.

↑ Back to top

---

Preparing Your Home

Before bringing your new dog home, thorough preparation prevents problems. Your new dog will be overwhelmed by new sights, sounds, and smells. A well-prepared home helps them feel safe.

Essential Supplies

Have these items ready before your dog arrives:

• Collar and lead: Properly fitting collar and a 4-6 foot lead for control during introductions
• Food and water bowls: Durable, appropriately sized bowls
• Dog bed or crate: A safe space where your dog can retreat and relax
• Food: The same food the dog was eating before (if switching brands, do so gradually over 7-10 days to prevent digestive upset)
• Toys and enrichment: Appropriate toys for your dog’s age and size
• ID tags and microchip registration: Updated contact information

Safety and Setup

Prepare your home for safety:¹

• Remove valuables and hazards: Secure electrical cords, remove toxic plants, and store chemicals safely
• Protect furniture: Use washable covers if worried about accidents during adjustment
• Establish a safe space: Set up a separate area (a bedroom or pen) where your new dog can stay initially, giving them a confined space to understand before exploring the whole house
• Vaccinations confirmed: Ensure any existing pets are up-to-date on vaccinations before the new dog arrives
• Routines established: Plan feeding times, potty breaks, and exercise schedules in advance

↑ Back to top

---

Introducing to Existing Dogs

If you have existing dogs, proper introduction is critical. A rushed or poorly managed first meeting can trigger territorial aggression or lasting tension.

Scent Swapping

Before any face-to-face meeting, use scent swapping to introduce your dogs.² Dogs get a lot of information about the world from their noses, so this is a natural, non-threatening introduction.

How to do scent swapping:³

• Take a blanket, toy, or cloth that smells of your new dog
• Place it in your existing dog’s environment (like the garden)
• Allow your existing dog to investigate at their own pace
• Reverse the process: take something smelling of your existing dog to the new dog’s area
• Repeat this for several days before the first meeting

This helps both dogs mentally prepare and recognize each other’s scent before meeting.

First Face-to-Face Meeting

Preparation for the first meeting:⁴

• Enlist help: Have one person for each dog so you can manage them separately
• Use leads: Both dogs should be on loose leads—tight leads increase tension
• Stay calm: Dogs pick up on your anxiety and excitement, so stay calm and happy. Lower energy and less eye contact help dogs stay relaxed
• Keep it brief: The first meeting should be short (5-10 minutes)
• Watch body language: Look for relaxed bodies, wagging tails, and gentle sniffing

Neutral Territory Meetings

The first meeting should happen on neutral territory if possible.⁵ Your existing dog may feel territorial at home and react defensively. Neutral territory (like a park or quiet street) reduces territorial aggression.

How to handle the first meeting:⁶

• Begin with scent exploration: Let the dogs retrace each other’s steps and sniff where the other has walked
• Allow natural greeting: If both dogs are relaxed, let them say hello and sniff each other
• Move together: Take them on a short walk together, keeping leads loose
• Watch for signals: Separated them if either dog shows signs of aggression (lunging, snapping, excessive barking)
• Praise calm behavior: Reward both dogs for good behavior

If the first meeting goes well, you can repeat short meetings over several days before bringing the new dog home.

First Days at Home

The first time your new dog enters your home with your existing dog requires careful management:⁷

• Keep dogs on leads: Use indoor leads or house lines so you can separate them if needed
• Start in large spaces: Begin in your garden or largest indoor neutral space, avoiding narrow areas or feeding areas
• Keep their world small: Don’t give the new dog the run of the entire house immediately. Let them explore room by room with supervision
• Introduce slowly: Many rescue dogs have never been in a home before. Introduce each room gradually
• Feed separately: Feed your dogs separately (in different rooms or separated by a gate) until you’re confident they can eat calmly side-by-side

Ongoing Supervision and Separation

Don’t rush unsupervised time together:⁷

• Supervise all interactions: Always oversee your dogs during the first few days and weeks
• Separate when unsupervised: When you cannot watch them, separate your dogs into different rooms or use gates
• Give breaks: Give both dogs regular breaks from each other by separating them into different areas
• Build bonds gradually: It can take three to six months (or longer) for real bonds to form between dogs. Don’t expect instant friendship
• Watch “hot zones”: Monitor carefully during feeding, toy time, and treat time, as these are common conflict triggers

↑ Back to top

---

Introducing to Cats

Introducing a dog to a cat requires more caution than dog-to-dog introductions, especially with high-prey-drive breeds. Never rush this process.

Understanding Prey Drive

Different dog breeds and individuals have different prey drives.⁸ Terriers, sight hounds, and other hunting breeds may see a cat as something to chase, while some calm dogs may have no interest.

Understanding your dog’s prey drive helps you plan an appropriate introduction strategy. A dog with a strong prey drive requires much slower, more controlled introductions.

Preparing the Cat

Your cat needs security and escape routes before the introduction:⁹

• High spaces: Provide cat trees, shelves, or furniture where your cat can observe the dog from a safe distance
• Escape routes: Ensure your cat always has a way to leave a room without confronting the dog
• Separate spaces: Initially keep your cat in a separate room with their own food, water, litter box, and toys
• Scent swapping: Begin scent swapping with bedding or toys so the cat gets used to the dog’s smell

Barrier Introduction

Start introductions through a barrier like a baby gate or door:¹⁰

• Gate introduction: Let the dog view the cat briefly through a gate, then redirect the dog’s attention to something else (toy or treat)
• Reward calm behavior: Praise and reward your dog every time they look away from the cat or stay calm
• Short sessions: Keep these sessions very brief (5-10 minutes) and repeat several times throughout the day
• Gradual progression: Over days or weeks, gradually increase viewing time as your dog remains calm
• Watch body language: If your dog starts staring intensely, moving slowly, or stiffening, move them further away from the cat

Face-to-Face Meetings

Only progress to face-to-face meetings when your dog remains calm viewing the cat through a barrier.¹¹

How to conduct a face-to-face meeting:¹²

• Keep dog on lead: Your dog must be on a loose lead during initial meetings
• Have treats ready: Use treats to reward your dog for calm behavior and to keep their attention on you
• Allow the cat to approach: Don’t force interaction—let the cat approach at their own pace or choose to leave
• Watch for good signs: Gentle investigation, wagging tail, and respecting the cat’s communication signals indicate success
• Watch for bad signs: Instant attempts to chase, straining at the lead, whining, or barking indicate you need to separate them
• Keep meetings short: End the session before any tension builds

Moving to Unsupervised Time

Drop the lead and allow them to share space only when you’re absolutely sure your dog won’t chase the cat.¹³

• Stay present: Supervise closely even after dropping the lead
• Interrupt chasing: If your dog chases the cat, calmly pick up the lead and gently discourage the behavior
• End the session: Separate them and try again another day
• Provide retreats: Even after successful introduction, your cat needs places where they can be alone away from your dog
• Continue supervision: Supervise interactions indefinitely—accidents can happen

↑ Back to top

---

Introducing to Children

Teaching children how to interact appropriately with your new dog prevents injuries and helps build positive relationships.

Teaching Children

Before your new dog arrives, teach children these rules:

• No pulling ears, tail, or fur: Teach children to pet gently and never grab at the dog
• Don’t bother dogs while eating: Teach children never to touch the dog’s food, food bowl, or toys
• Don’t bother dogs while sleeping: Let sleeping dogs sleep; waking them suddenly can cause defensive behavior
• Ask permission before petting: Even friendly dogs may not want to be touched sometimes
• Understand stress signals: Teach children to recognize when a dog needs space: ears back, avoiding eye contact, moving away, or showing teeth

Providing Safe Retreat Space

Your dog needs a safe space where they can escape from children:

• Crate or bed: Set up a crate or dog bed in a quiet area where children know not to disturb the dog
• Baby gate: Use a gate to create a space (like a bedroom) where the dog can go and be alone
• Make it appealing: Place toys, treats, and a comfortable bed in the retreat space
• Respect boundaries: Teach children that when the dog is in their retreat space, they are not to be disturbed

Never force interaction between children and your dog. Let them develop their relationship naturally. A child who respects the dog’s boundaries will have a much better relationship long-term.

↑ Back to top

---

References and Sources

1. Animal Friends. “How to Settle a Rescue Dog Into Your Home.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑
2. PDSA. “Introducing Dogs.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑
3. Butternut Box. “How to Introduce a Puppy to a Dog.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑
4. Calm Kind Happy. “How to Introduce a Rescue Dog Into a Home With an Existing Dog.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑
5. Dogs Trust. “Introducing Your New Dog or Puppy to Your Current Dog.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑
6. Kennel to Couch. “Introducing Your Rescue Dog to Other Pets: A Step-by-Step Guide.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑
7. Paws 4 Life. “Tips for Introducing a New Dog or Puppy to an Existing Dog.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑
8. Pet GP. “Introducing Dogs and Cats Into the Same Household.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑
9. Dogs for Good. “Introducing Dogs and Cats.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑
10. Best Friends Animal Society. “How to Introduce a Dog to a Cat.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑
11. PDSA. “Introducing Cats and Dogs.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑
12. Canine and Feline Behaviour Association. “Integrating Cats and Dogs.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑
13. We Love Pets. “Introducing a New Puppy to an Existing Pet.” Accessed January 2026. ^↑

↑ Back to top

---

About this article: This comprehensive introduction guide is based on verified information from Animal Friends, PDSA, Butternut Box, Calm Kind Happy, Dogs Trust, Kennel to Couch, Paws 4 Life, Pet GP, Dogs for Good, Best Friends Animal Society, and the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association. All references link directly to authoritative resources on pet introductions and behavior. This guide is intended as educational content to help new dog owners successfully introduce their pets to their homes and families. Every dog and household is unique—if you encounter significant aggression or behavioral problems during introductions, consult a certified professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist for personalized guidance.