ASK THE EXPERTS WITH CODY
4. Reward calm behavior. Chances are your dog will be suspicious of something new in its backyard domain. If your dog starts wiggling with excitement or whining, that's normal! Reinforce positive interactions by offering comfort and rewarding submissive body language, such as relaxed ears and a lowered head. Be patient. Dogs are not trained overnight.
5. Leashed meeting. Next, using a leash, bring your dog to meet the new pet. Let them check each other out and interact in a safe way. Repeat this process for as long as it takes for your dog to relax. This portion of the interaction will require close observation of your dog's behavior. Any type of tension or aggression needs to result in a firm "no," while good behavior should be verbally praised. In the event that your dog shows signs of fear or aggression, increase your distance until you've reestablished a calm demeanor and then try again.
Continue this ritual until your dog and your new pet start to behave like old friends. For expert advice on raising pets and other animals, visit TractorSupply.com/KnowHow.
"This portion of the interaction will require close observation of your dog's behavior."
Photo credit: @in_stride_ride