Use scent mingling before introducing new animals to each other.

Dogs use their nose to identify pack members. It makes sense to fool your dog (and cat) by mingling familiar scents with the new animals scent before actually introducing the animals. I use ‘animals’ here because I have used this with a variety of critters.


1) Take a towel and rub your hands on it
2) Rub the towel on all of the existing pack (people and animals)
3) Rub the towel on the new animal
4) Rub the towel with your hands again
5) Rub the towel on all of the existing animals in the current pack
6) Repeat several times if possible before introducing the new comer
7) Take a brush and brush the current pack
8) Brush the new animal
9) Brush the existing pack – this mixes the ‘dander’

Notice I did not suggest that you brush your hair with this brush!

Of course this is just one piece of the introducing new animals puzzle! Watch for more tips to come. Post your questions and comments on our message board.