Introducing foster(s) to our dogs

[rottnalex]

Hey everyone,

I was looking for some opinions for the best way to introduce fosters to our dogs. We're kind of new to fostering although we've always had at least two dogs in our house.

The way we have always done it is by taking the 'new' dog and existing dog(s) for a walk together first. After a walk they are allowed to 'introduce' themselves to each other briefly in the yard before coming in the house. New dogs are always leased for the first couple of days to learn house rules and such. We also crate all dogs when they're not supervised.

Anyone have a good plan when introducing dogs that works for them? Or does anyone have suggestions on things we should do different?

To be clear, we own two dogs, male and female rottweiler mixes. Both are rescues between the ages of two and three (estimated). Both are dog friendly although Isaiah can be dominant with other large males, so we don't foster those anymore.

Thanks in advance. :)

[Sabledog]

what you doing now sounds just fine, when i get in a new foster, i usually introduce out front of my house on nuetral territory, then bring them all in together to the house, once inside i let them do the sniffing and stuff and then let them out into the yard, i usually know withing minutes if the dog is going to do ok or not, my males also have a problem with other big males but only if they are hyper, over dominant or over excited, my dogs like calm relaxed dogs lol it has alot to do with energy levels of the fosters, remember not all dogs are going to get along even if you try really hard (i recently just had to return a foster because my dogs refused to allow him in the "pack") but other than that i have had no problems.

[vagreys]

It sounds like your approach is very similar to mine.

Letting them meet on neutral ground is best, so that the new one isn't intimidated being in the other's home territory, and the other doesn't feel like a stranger has invaded.

I get a foster in every 5 or 6 weeks. Here's how I do the initial introduction. In good weather, I bring the foster home and take it out into the cul-de-sac, muzzled, on lead. My wife brings out our two hounds, muzzled, on lead. (Keep in mind these are retired racers, used to kennel muzzles as a matter of course, so it isn't at all unusual to them.) We let them meet on neutral ground, out in the cul-de-sac. Then, we take them for a short walk together, on lead. This gives us a chance to see how they interact. Usually, the walk is a great introduction. Then we take them through the house to the back yard and show them the potty area. We let them interact in the back yard, off lead. Then, we bring them back into the house. If the interactions are positive, we remove the muzzles fairly quickly. If we have any concerns, the muzzles stay on until we are feeling more confident that there won't be any fights.

In bad weather, I use gates to separate my hounds from the new foster and bring the new foster into the house. Again, all hounds are muzzled. I bring the foster into the kitchen, because the floor is easier to clean if there is an accident. I let the foster and my hounds interact through the baby gates. Then I bring one of my hounds in and let them meet one-on-one. Then, I switch out my hounds so the other can meet the new one one-on-one. I take them all out into the back yard to the potty area. I let them interact, off lead, in the back yard for a little while, then return them all to the house.

So, it looks like our approaches are similar. I've done it this way for several years, now, and for many foster hounds, and it always works well.

[rottnalex]

Thanks so much for the replies Sabledog and Tom!

Do you think when doing the off leash intros after a walk it would be better to do it one dog at a time vs. both of my dogs and the foster? I see you kind of mention that Tom. I was thinking it might be less overwhelming for a foster that way.

[vagreys]

...Do you think when doing the off leash intros after a walk it would be better to do it one dog at a time vs. both of my dogs and the foster?...
I think so. If one of your dogs doesn't get along with the foster, at first, you can have problems of redirected aggression, and the sudden explosion of a three-way fight. I've had that happen, and decided that one-on-one was definitely less-threatening and made for more peaceful introductions.

[rottnalex]

Thanks, I appreciate the advise. Last thing I want to do is screw up introductions.

[Sabledog]

yes i agree that one dog at a time off leash is better although i have not had any major fights my dog have had little scuffles, but not with any fosters, just amoung themselves (look up the thread no dogs are perfect) lol.

[Monkey]

I do te same I take a long walk around an hour and a half at least. To really give the dogs time to study eachother. The good thing with that is that they usually talk and make up meanwhile the walk, we just dont see it.

When I train people that have problems with dogs that throw themselves at other dogs while in leash I gather groups on ten dogs with same bad behaviour. It takes 20 min then everyone stops behaving bad cause then they have read those dogs. They need to read eachothers bodylanguage and the longer walk you take, the easier it will go as long as the dogs are somewhat nice. Insecure dogs will basicly take longer time though. So if you arent sure of the background or know nothing about it, let the walk be longer.