The Most Common Mistakes Humans Make When Adding A New Pet To The Home

Two is always better than 1 when it comes to animals!

With very few exceptions, two animals are better than one because all of our domestic pets are meant to live with others of the same breed. Cats live in a colony. Dogs live in packs. Horses live in herds. Birds live in flocks. You get the idea.

Now of course due to trauma or lack of socialization some animals simply can not cohabitate with others. But, most of them cant. Issues arise when humans do not allow proper slow introductions.

Common mistakes made by humans when adding new animals to the family – even when your current pet(s) are very social.

Introductions done inside the home (introductions should be on neutral ground)
If you have indoor cats, find a safe space in a garage or basement (somewhere your cat doesn’t often go)

Forcing pets to “like” everyone. Some pets won’t like another animal and thats ok! They don’t have to like them to cohabitate. They just won’t be best friends. They can learn to respectfully cohabitate with ANY animal if you give them the tools, guidance, and patience to do so. I have experienced this in my home when I added my dads dog to our family. (Read the story in comments)

Give up too quick. You don’t make a best friend in 30 minutes. Don’t expect your pet to make a best friend right away either. It takes MONTHS.

Blaming one animal if the introduction goes poorly. Yes, there are times it is one animal who instigated, BUT it’s not that animals fault. That animal may have felt unsafe, threatened, or unsure because of a mistake a human made with the introduction.

Setting pets up to fail by throwing them together too soon. Adding a new animal to a family means separation from each other when not supervised, for longer than humans want.
Not putting in the time or effort and expecting instant gratification. Humans love instant gratification. Many get frustrated, annoyed, or impatient when things aren’t instantly easy. Animals feel this energy and it escalates tension. If you don’t put in the time or effort you are setting them up to fail. All of them.
Not taking into consideration an animals past. Humans go through trauma and it can stay with them for their entire lives. Animals are the same. If they have gone through trauma do not expect them to leave that at the door when they enter your home. It comes in with them. And if you put them into a situation that triggers that trauma you are setting them up to fail.

Every single animal CAN succeed if humans take the time, put in the effort, and have the patience. When you bring a new baby home from the hospital your current kids may be jealous, mad, or pull “tantrums” because they don’t want to share attention. Animals are the same. They are the equivalent of a 2 year old. You wouldn’t bring your newborn back to the hospital. You would work with your kids over time to cohabitate. Fully expecting challenge and behavioral issues along the way. Animals are the same.

THE STORY OF ADDING BUCK TO OUR FAMILY

Here is my story of animals living together that don’t “like” each other.

When my dad died in April of 2024 I inherited his black lab, Buck. My pitbul, Titan, HATED buck. Buck was about 4 years old, Titan about 5. They met as young dogs but Titan never accepted Buck. He would growl, lunge, full on attack. We worked on pack walks, etc. but honestly never dedicated enough time to it because they didn’t live together so we just said nevermind.

I would go visit my dad and if Buck was outside and Titan was in my car he would go nuts at the window, agressive barking, trying to get out when I’d open the door, etc. Like most, I ignored it because I knew animals do not have to like everyone they meet, just like humans dont.

Once Titan even jumped out of my open sun roof to go full on attack Buck. Another time, Titan ran across a 10 acre field to go attack Buck. Titan went out of his way on many occasions to seek out Buck and fight. Buck never once retaliated. It was a one sided hate.

Clearly, I never thought I was going to inherit my dad’s dog. My dad died unexpectedly and rehoming Buck wasn’t an option. Animals are family. So I committed to making this work. I was forced. It took months. Months of me having them on leashed when in the house. Correcting and redirecting Titan when he would go after Buck.

Titan was tethered to me anytime Buck was in the main area of the house. Sometimes Buck would get a break in the bedroom and TItan could be untethered but I had to keep reminding Titan to not go to the door and try to get Buck, through the door.

Then it went from attacking intentions to hackles up. Then it went from hackles up to Titan being tense. Then it went from Titan being tense to Titan being off the tether, but my eye very on him. Because if Buck made one move that TItan didn’t like, the light switched and Titan went after him.

Titan doesn’t listen to anyone else so I always had to be around when Buck was in the main area.

Now, they are fine! They cohabitate and they are ALL happy but they don’t like each other. Buck growls at Titan out of fear, Titan has learned to ignore it. Not many dogs could stand near a dog growling at them and not retaliate, but Titan has learned not to. Titan is a very domninant, alpha dog, but he has learned that he has to cohabitate with Buck.

We don’t leave them unservised alone and never will be able to, but when we are home, even my kids now (if I am not home) they can all be together and trusted without an extra eye on them. Titan and Buck just don’t lay down together or play together or hang out together. They all go outside together. When there is food around TItan and Buck can sit side by side and ignore each other : )

So it CAN be done. But it takes time, patience, consistency and commitment.

I have never seen a day hate another dog as much as Titan hated Buck, but he learned to cohabitate with force free redirection and consistency.