Meeting Other Pets
Bringing your Lab into a home with other pets involves diplomatic skills worthy of Colin Powell. They all need to learn to live together amiably — or at least neutrally. It's your job to help them deal effectively with conflicts. A proper introduction will help keep tensions to a minimum and allow all pets to develop cordial relationships.
Remember that animals like routine and structure. Begin introductions slowly, rather than just throwing everyone together and hoping they all get along. The way you introduce them depends on which species are involved.
Dog Pals
Labs are the original buddy dogs. They get along with everyone, especially other dogs. Nonetheless, it's a good idea to introduce them on neutral territory, such as a nearby park or a neighbor's yard. It may help smooth the initial relationship, and it certainly can't hurt.
As a rule, an adult dog is more likely to welcome a puppy than a dog of its own age. Nonetheless, if your first dog is very old and you're bringing a puppy home, be sure the older dog has a place he can escape to when puppy play becomes too rambunctious.
With each dog on a slack leash, let them sniff and circle each other. This is an essential part of the dog greeting ritual. Let them take their time. A puppy may show deference to an older dog by rolling over on its back. When they seem to be getting along, walk them home. This gives them more time to adjust to each other's presence.
Sometimes a meeting on neutral territory isn't possible. If that's the case, be sure your other dog is confined when you first come home. Let the new dog sniff around the yard on leash to get the scent of the other dog. Then put the new dog in his crate or in the dog run. Let your other dog out so it can visit through the crate or kennel bars. Once they've had a few minutes to get used to each other's presence, you can let the newcomer out for a nose-to-tail meeting.
When it's time to go in the house, take the new dog in on leash. You want him under your control until you're sure how he's going to behave. He should spend the first day on leash at your side (or in his crate) so you can supervise the dogs' interactions.
Feline Friends Not Foes
Introductions between dogs and cats should always start with the dog on leash. This is especially true with a puppy, who might not know to be respectful of a cat's claws. A smart Lab will approach a cat somewhat cautiously. Praise the dog, and give a treat if he ignores the cat or proffers a gentle sniff. Use the leash to restrain him if he lunges at the cat.
Cats that stand their ground are likely to fare well with a new dog and may even rule over the dog with an iron paw. Cats that turn tail and run, however, may instigate a never-ending game of chase, with themselves as the prey.
Another way — probably the best way — to introduce dogs and cats is for one of them to be in a crate. This allows them to see and smell each other first before venturing a closer inspection. Schedule a cage-free meeting — again with the dog on leash — after an energetic play session. A tired Lab might be less likely to lunge at kitty. Remember that it can take a couple of weeks for cats and dogs to become used to each other. Be sure the cat has a place to go where it can escape the dog, such as a room with a baby gate or a tall cat tree.
Other Pets
Labs are intrigued by birds. They'll spend hours staring at a bird in a cage, figuratively — or literally — licking their chops. They are bird dogs, after all. One way you might be able to break your Lab of this habit is to allow him to stick his nose through the cage bars. A nip from a parrot's beak is painful and may teach your Lab to keep a wise distance from the bird. Don't try this with a large parrot, such as a macaw; its powerful beak could do some serious damage.
Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and other pocket pets may also rouse a Lab's prey drive. With careful supervision, Labs can learn to get along with these small pets. No matter how well they seem to get along, however, they should never be left alone together unless the smaller pet is in a cage that's safely out of reach.
