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If you already have an adult cat or dog, bringing a new pet into
their territory must be managed thoughtfully and carefully. Before
exposing any newcomer to your resident cat or dog, have your new
puppy checked by a veterinarian and tested for parasites and
contagious diseases.
While awaiting the test results keep the new arrival isolated from
your other pets, in a separate room or in a cage. This also allows
time for the house smell to settle on the newcomer, which may help
make the introductions less threatening. After a few days remove
the new puppy from its separate quarters for awhile and let the
resident pets go in and sniff the new scent. When the time seems
right allow the resident pets to see and sniff the newcomer, but
supervise all contact for the first few weeks. Keep dogs on a
leash during these meetings so they won't chase and frighten the
newcomer. Gradually increase the exposure time until the pets seem
to settle down and become acquainted.
 Although
it's usually easier to introduce a puppy rather than a grown dog
into a home, don't be dismayed if it takes as long as a month for
the animals to accept each other and become friends. Cats are
territorial creatures and adding a newcomer to the environment
means that new boundaries must be set. In time the tension usually
disappears; however pets, like people, are individuals and
occasionally two turn out to be simply incompatible. Most shelters
and breeders will agree to take back an animal if things don't
work out in the new home, but just in case, always make sure your
purchase or adoption agreement clearly states the terms
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