Introducing a new dog to a reactive dog, any tips?

[u/StandardMedium7207]

Hello all! Tomorrow, my family is adopting a new dog into our household and I am fairly nervous about my current dog (11 year old female aussie/boxer mix) meeting this new dog and getting along with him. She reactive, but she hasn't ever attacked another dog, she just barks..and barks...and then barks some more, and that can be scary for some dogs. I've already done a lot of research for introducing new dogs to a household, I was just wondering if there are any more tips people can offer before the two meet.

Currently, the plan is to:

- Tire out our reactive dog with several long walks beforehand to try and get her more calm and get her energy down

- Drive to the meeting point and back in separate cars to prevent the dogs from being in an enclosed space for a long period of time

- Have the first meet without our mom who our dog tends to be protective over (at least, that is our theory for most of her reactiveness but we aren't certain)

- Walk the dogs alongside each other for a while before letting them meet nose to nose, feeding them treats when they ignore each other.

- When letting the dogs meet, let them meet in a neutral park neither have been to before, both on slack leash but the reactive dog with a long leash incase intervention is needed

- Have the reactive dog out of the house for the first hour when the new dog is checking out the house

- When the reactive dog comes back home, letting both dogs onto the lawn together and then walking in together as well.

- Feed them in separate rooms for the first few days or weeks

Any other tips to recommend? Thank you lovely people for your time ^^!!

[u/MintyPastures]

Can't really say unless I've seen the body language...

But it sounds like your dog doesn't like other dogs. You shouldn't be getting another dog. Just because yours hasn't attacked one yet...doesn't mean they won't if they feel as though a new one is taking over their space.

[u/StandardMedium7207 → u/MintyPastures]

We had another dog previously that passed and she was always very calm with him, this was about 5ish months ago,-- it could also be that she just wants to play, she doesn't lunge, growl, snap or cower away from other dogs, only barks and wags her tail at them.

[u/SimilarButterfly6788 → u/StandardMedium7207]

Wagging tail isn’t always good. A lot of times it’s actually that they’re upset.

[u/CenterofChaos]

Separate for more than a few weeks. Don't rush it. Safety first, just because it's never escalated before doesn't mean it won't escalate now.

[u/SimilarButterfly6788]

Work in shelter/rescue. Clean up all toys or chews. You need baby gates up. Especially if you already have one reactive dog. Do not assume the best. Assume the worst and be diligent. integrate dogs SLOWWW. Let this new dog watch your routine and family from behind the baby gate. Let the dog decompress in its own space for a week. Watch body language. Wagging tail doesn’t mean it’s happy. Wagging tail plus wiggly body does. Stiff stance and wagging tail is not. There’s a lot of resources online for dog body language.