Introducing a new pet to children and other pets safely
TUREFF• •0
Bringing a new pet home is exciting, but first meetings shape relationships for years. A rushed introduction can leave a dog wary of children, or two cats who never settle together. Slow, supervised introductions take longer at first and save a great deal of trouble later. The cats room has a detailed guide on introducing cats to each other; this one covers the general principles for children and mixed households.
Prepare before the pet arrives
- Set up a safe space for the new animal, such as a quiet room with a bed, water, toys and, for a cat, a litter tray. It should be somewhere it can retreat to undisturbed.
- Give resident pets their own safe spaces too, so they never feel cornered.
- Use baby gates, crates or closed doors to separate animals and children when needed.
- Agree household rules with everyone, such as who feeds the pet and where the pet is allowed.
- Ask the rescue or breeder how the animal has behaved with children and other species before.
Children and a new pet
The most important rule, repeated by animal welfare charities, is simple: never leave a young child alone with a dog, however gentle the dog seems. The same caution makes sense for any pet. If you need to leave the room, take the child or the animal with you.
Teach children to:
- Let the animal come to them. Sit quietly and wait rather than chasing or reaching.
- Stroke gently on the back or shoulders rather than the head, face or tail.
- Leave animals alone when they are eating, sleeping, in their bed or have retreated.
- Avoid hugging, kissing or picking up pets. Many animals find this stressful, even if they tolerate it.
- Keep their voices and movements calm at first.
- Tell an adult if the pet seems upset.
Learn the signs of a stressed animal so you can step in early. In dogs these include lip licking, yawning, turning the head away, showing the whites of the eyes, a tucked tail or freezing. In cats, flattened ears, a swishing tail, hiding and hissing. Growling and hissing are warnings; never punish them, as an animal that is punished for warning may skip the warning next time.
Introducing a new pet to resident pets
Introductions between animals usually go best in stages.
- Scent first. Keep the animals apart at first and swap bedding or toys so they get used to each other's smell.
- Sight next. Let them see each other through a gate, a crate or a slightly opened door, while rewarding calm behaviour with treats.
- Short supervised meetings. Keep them brief and end on a calm note. For dogs, many trainers suggest a first meeting on neutral ground, walking side by side on leads.
- Gradually increase time together, always supervised at first.
- Separate resources. Give each animal its own food bowl, water, bed and, for cats, litter tray, placed apart, to avoid competition.
Go at the pace of the most nervous animal, not the most confident one. Some households take days; others take weeks or months.
Mixing species
Dogs and cats can live together happily, but a dog with a strong chase instinct may never be safe with a cat. Small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and birds are prey animals; even a friendly cat or dog can frighten or injure them, and stress itself can harm them. Keep small pets in secure housing that larger pets cannot reach, and do not allow unsupervised contact.
When to get help
Ask your vet, the rescue or a qualified behaviourist if you see growling, snapping, fighting, persistent hiding, loss of appetite, toileting problems or a pet that never settles. A vet can also check whether pain or illness is affecting behaviour.
How did you introduce your new pet to your household? Share what worked in the comments.