Introducing Philippe

Dogs who are accustomed to being the only family pet aren't always overjoyed to have a new puppy enter their space. Martin never had to share his position in our family and therefore may act rather jealous of Philippe at first. However, handling the change with care will result the two dogs becoming inseparable pals in no time.

Puppies tend to demand more hands-on care and attention than older dogs, in this case Martin. Spending equal time with both Martin and Philippe will prevent Martin becoming resentful of Philippe. It is most likely that we'll spend more time with Philippe at first but we have to stay aware of the fact not to decrease the amount of time we spend with Martin when we eventually bring Philippe home. Demonstrating to Martin that Philippe is not replacing him in our affections, will help his self-esteem in this process.

One of the best things we can do when introducing Philippe to Martin is to allow both dogs time to get accustomed to one another. When giving dogs time to form their own relationship, it's very likely that they will become play-mates who enjoy each other's company as well as our company. Even if both Martin & Philippe don't seem to take to each other at first, we need to remember that dogs are pack animals by nature. In the natural order of things, dogs are meant to be around other dogs. However, they are also creatures of habit, and it takes time for them to get used to change. Best thing for us to do is stay out of the way and let both guys establish the pecking order in their new relationship.

Dogs tend to be very territorial creatures, and dogs who aren't used to sharing don't like to be forced to do so. To reduce the possibility of extended animosity between the two guys, we step back and don't force Martin to share things that have always belonged exclusively to him with Philippe.

What we can do to help the introduction period is to make sure that both guys have their own bed, food- and water bowls and toys. Once the two bond, they will probably start sharing anyway. To force them to share before they get to know each other, can cause lifelong conflict between them.

Knowing Martin, we can only cross our fingers and hope that things will take their natural course and that some of the nice characteristics of Martin will rub off on Philippe.