August 19, 2025 • 22 mins
When that adorable new puppy or rescue dog joins your household, the dream is harmony, but the reality often involves chaos, stress, and sometimes even conflict between your existing dogs and the newcomer. What if there was a better way?
Crufts Champion, Expert Naughty but Nice Dog Trainer, Lauren Langman sits down with Linda, a competitive obedience trainer who recently introduced a tiny one-kilogram poodle puppy to her household of three Border Collies - including one particularly reactive dog who typically doesn't tolerate newcomers. The surprise? Linda reports the integration has been "simple and straightforward," though certainly requiring work and knowledge.
This candid conversation reveals the stark contrast between traditional approaches to dog introductions and modern, science-based methods. Linda shares how her journey through positive training transformed her understanding of canine body language, management techniques, and the importance of advocating for resident dogs. You'll discover practical strategies like using neutral territory for first meetings, creating safe spaces with gates and crates, and managing resources to prevent tension.
Perhaps most valuable is Linda's insight into reading subtle canine signals - from a Border Collie's widening eyes indicating rising arousal to a puppy's resource guarding behaviours that need gentle intervention. Her month-long integration process demonstrates that patience yields results; her once-reactive Border Collie now plays chase games with the puppy she initially feared. What's a month compared to a lifetime of positive and fun interaction?
Whether you're considering adding a new dog to your family or struggling with integration challenges right now, this episode offers actionable advice that respects both the newcomer and your resident dogs. Most importantly, you'll gain the confidence to set your timeline rather than rushing based on others' expectations.
Ready to transform your multi-dog household management? Listen now and discover how to make your dog's world harmonious, even when it's expanding to include new dogs in your home.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Lauren Langman (00:09):
Welcome to the Absolute Dog Sex in a Squirrel
podcast.
I'm Lauren Langman.
I'm one of the world's leadingdog trainers and it's my mission
to help owners become theirdog's top priority.
In each episode, you'lldiscover how to gain trust and
communicate with your dog likenever before, creating
unbreakable bonds that make youthe most exciting part of their
world.
Okay, so today we're talkingbringing home a new dog, or
(00:33):
introducing a puppy to thehousehold and, lovely Linda, you
have just done very this.
How hard has it been, howdifficult has it been, how much
of a struggle has it been tobring in a new puppy, and
actually, how has it been?
How difficult has it been?
How much of a struggle has itbeen to bring in a new puppy and
actually, how has it beendifferent to what you maybe have
done in the past?
Linda Hughes (00:51):
So it actually has been fairly simple,
straightforward, but it hastaken a lot of work and
knowledge on my part to make itsimple and straightforward.
Lauren Langman (01:02):
So give us a scenario who do you own and what
are the household dynamics?
So I take it, when we'relistening to this simple and
straightforward sounds like youown three happy-go-lucky
Labradors.
Actually, I know different.
I know you actually own naughtybut nice dogs who potentially
wouldn't tolerate a puppy, letalone a one kilo puppy, the size
of maybe a guinea pig or less,and actually a very, very
(01:23):
opinionated puppy.
And so he's quite bouncy andenergetic and yet he's tiny, so
this ball of fluff actuallycould be quite easily harmed.
Yes, in a normal household, sothe, so the.
Linda Hughes (01:34):
I have three border collies.
I'll have three good colleagues.
My oldest boy is 10 and he'sabout 20, 22 kilograms, so he's
fairly large for a Border Colliebut he's naughty but nice with
other dogs but he's very goodwith puppies.
But I know he disciplinespuppies by putting his foot on
(01:59):
them.
So step one was we can't havePing, which is we were talking
about being off by the puppy andgoing just you behave yourself,
because we've got this tinylittle one kilogram puppy,
poodle puppy, that he could justbreak his neck if you put his
foot on it.
So that was that's number one.
But I knew that temperamentallyhe would be more accepting of
(02:20):
the puppy than the other two,who are the two girls.
The middle girl, another madborder collie I would have, I
would expect her to ignore.
And the, the most problematicone is my ulla, whom you love,
who I love dearly, the best girl.
We love her dearly, but she'sshe's so obsessive, compulsive,
(02:44):
sensitive, reactive, everything,and I knew that she would find
it very, very difficult.
Lauren Langman (02:53):
And when you say difficult, what might you
expect from a dog like Ullabringing a new dog into the
house?
And you guys, when we'retalking to you, this could be a
new adult dog, this could be anew puppy, this could be a new
rescue dog, this could be a newdog to your household, and I
think that's a really importantbit.
Linda Hughes (03:07):
It's a new rescue dog.
This could be a new dog to yourhousehold and I think that's a
really important bit.
It's a new dog to yourhousehold.
It's just a new member of thepack.
Lauren Langman (03:11):
I would have expected her to go for the puppy
.
Okay, so there's a chance ofsome sharpness, yes, and I think
that's really uh important andand good to be aware of.
Is there any sharpness there?
Could there be any sharpnessthere?
Is there something we need toidentify or acknowledge?
Okay, so when you tell me it'sbeen pretty simple and pretty
easy, what's helped with that orwhat's enabled that, or why is
your journey different todaythan it was, say, five years ago
(03:32):
, what's what's?
Linda Hughes (03:32):
changed my whole journey through absolute dogs
and pdt and everything.
Lauren Langman (03:37):
Wow, that's cool that is pretty cool.
So your whole journey haschanged the way you potentially
manage a multi-dog household orintroduce a new dog, or
introduce a puppy, or eventravel away with your dogs.
Linda Hughes (03:50):
My understanding of dogs, my ability to read dogs
, my ability to see what'shappening in front of me, to
plan, to manage all of that.
Lauren Langman (03:59):
I'll give you a really quick example.
I'd love you to give me someexamples.
Last night I've got a new teammember here.
We were having dinner, and whenI'm having dinner I really want
to know that my dogs are stillcared for, because I know that
sometimes I'm working 12 hourdays, maybe 15 hour days,
sometimes 16 hour days too longa day, I get it, but I choose to
work that.
My dogs don't choose for me towork that.
So when I've got long days Iwill have a team and I
definitely have help.
(04:19):
So those of you go, how do youdo it all I have help.
And I heard this awful screaming.
No one was getting hurt, no onewas dying.
It was someone's being fed andI'm really angry about it.
And so I chatted to our newteam member and I said to him
okay, if you're gonna feed, youactually don't let anyone know
(04:40):
you're gonna feed.
So the first rule of feedingfor me is it's impromptu and we
don't know anyone's gonna be fed.
And he was to give blink a meal, because blinks sort of to be
honest, she's actually quitelight.
A lot of the time she's beenout in the gardens a lot, she's
running around a lot and soactually, she is a dog who runs
quite light and so she washaving a meal, but not everyone
was having a meal, and so whenhe was giving that food, he ran
(05:01):
it past everyone.
So everyone saw it, everyonerealized blink was having food
and everyone realized they werenot getting food, and so, like
chaos ensued.
And so for me, if I'm going tofeed everyone, fair enough, I'm
going to look at that dynamic.
But also, if I'm going to feedone dog, I look at that dynamic,
and what I would do, personally, if I'm going to feed blink was
the dog that was getting a bitof a top up, a bit extra.
What I would do is I would puteveryone in gardens or spaces
(05:23):
where they're happy.
So for me, I've got you can see, we've got quite a cool setup.
We've got front yard, we've gotbackyard, we've got a side
garden, we've got a garden overthere.
I put the dogs out intodifferent spaces and then blink
would go in and into a pen or acrate or another garden where
she can have her food, butnobody else knows she's having
her food because I haven'tstarted preparing it until
everyone else is out.
So everyone else goes out andthen I'll stop preparing it.
(05:45):
However, I might do itcompletely differently.
I might do um, everyone out andblink gets a scatter feed
somewhere.
Or I might do let's go in thevan for a road trip and let's
give blink a kong in the van.
Like I just vary it.
And the thing that I don'trealize or I suppose I do
realize more and more is thatother people don't do that and
that's where chaos ensuesbecause you can imagine it, they
(06:08):
think it's feed time and noteveryone gets fed.
And the frustrations there,disappointments there, and
suddenly you got screaming and Iwas just really shocked at
quite how noisy wild was, justbecause she thought blink was
gonna get fed without her.
Like it really shocked mebecause she's just not with me,
but I've really ditched theroutine on my feeding um, how
about you?
Linda Hughes (06:23):
but what you're saying is your knowledge of what
could happen.
Oh, so it gives you foresightso that you can then manage a
situation and set a situation upfor your dogs to be successful.
Lauren Langman (06:34):
Brilliant.
Thank you for translating forthe poor world that's trying to
cope with the speed and and whatwe're doing.
High five to that as well,linda.
And because it is, it's that,it's that prep and planning and
it's so ingrained in me to do it.
Now it's so ingrained is is tookay, you need a bit extra,
because I I ditch the bowl, Ifeed raw, I feed a variety of
good kibbles as well where I'mtraining, or hand hand cooked
(06:57):
foods.
But I'll sometimes feel oversomeone.
People say how do you do thatwhen you got 10 dogs?
Well, the way I do it is, Ifeel over them and I go, you
feel a little bit heavy or youfeel a little bit light, and so
they'll get a bit extra that way.
But it is always oh, you'regoing back in the van to travel
okay, you have a handful in thatcrate.
Or you're going back here youhave a tripe stick, or you're
doing this, you have that, butyou're always kind of like
(07:17):
moving it, but but also you'realways thinking ahead and you're
ahead of the game.
Linda Hughes (07:22):
Whereas a lot of people don't do that.
They don't have that foresightof what the result is going to
be in what they're doing.
So for me, bringing this newdog in, I probably, five or ten
years ago, would have broughtthe puppy in.
I would have penned it.
I was into pens at that pointso it would have gone in a pen,
(07:43):
but I would have probably triedto introduce the other dogs to
it in the house fairly early on.
That didn't happen.
So the puppy was brought home.
It was penned.
The other dogs were keptseparate.
I've got a baited community.
There's plenty of baby gatesall over the place, so they were
(08:05):
other dogs were never in thesame room.
They knew it was there becauseI think I can smell it bubbles
here, I smell here.
Lauren Langman (08:12):
There's a stranger in the place.
I've got a very funny story onsmelling things very quickly
skittle.
The other day I had a friend'sdog come to stay.
She's called sheba the queen ofsheba, nonetheless than the
queen and the queen of sheba wasstaying in the house and she
was on skittle's bed.
Now skittle was in the gardenso skittle didn't even really
know she was in the housebecause actually most of the
time I manage my scenario.
(08:33):
So you're out, you're in.
It's like a rotation systemonce you're in 10 dogs there's
no going back.
You, just you, you.
You live a multi-dog householdso you're kind of used to
rotating and managing andeverything else.
Anyway, skittle got on her bedlast night and she literally
went and just like, looked likereally horrified.
You know when some dogs areprickly like hormonal looking.
She's had that prickly momentwith some dogs that even notice
(08:55):
blinks, just so sweet and niceshe doesn't notice anything.
Skittle honestly looked likeshe'd stood in a porcupine.
She was just like horrifiedthat she could smell the queen
of shiba on her bed and she waslike this is not okay and it's a
, it's a pmf bed, so it's like amassage bed, so you can't
really wash it or it's a.
It's a and it sets like amagnetic.
Yeah, I've got a very nice bed.
(09:16):
Not when you wash sk all livid,but that type of thing, right,
some dogs smell, so they'd haveknown.
Linda Hughes (09:22):
They knew Bobble was in the house.
Yes, they knew he was in thehouse, but they didn't didn't
get to mix with him.
And then a couple after acouple of days I mean he was, he
was going out for a walk on hisown, so he'd go on the van but
he would get a little wander andthen go back on the van and
then I'd take the others for alittle sniff around.
And then I went to a friendaway from home and I was giving
(09:44):
the dogs, the two girls who werethe two most problematic.
They were having a little legstretch before I went to a
training session.
So I took the puppy out of thevan, carried him to this
heathland, let the girls go fortheir wander, put him down on
the ground and walked and theyboth came back and went oh
(10:09):
that's, their eyes were out onstalks.
They knew what, he, who, theyknew he'd come from home, they
knew the connection.
But they there was the firstface-to-face meeting and I said
come on, let's walk, and theywon't move forward.
He tried to run after them Ilove it.
Lauren Langman (10:26):
They knew he came from home.
Linda Hughes (10:29):
I did that was the same smell.
Oh, that's that thing that'sbeen.
Lauren Langman (10:32):
That's that little gray thing that's been at
home and they can imagine likethat little grey turd yes, or
that chunk chaser toy that Inever got to get hold of.
Linda Hughes (10:45):
She would just be like a little fluff.
They ran off.
He ran after them, this littleblack thing running after them,
he's so lovely, they outran himand he just went.
Oh okay, then I'll go back tomy mum.
I haven't got him on a line, alead or anything.
Just let him go.
Let him get on with it.
That's a nice scenario Neutralterritory.
(11:07):
Sandy was a bit afraid of him,but also a few days in, I think
that's really important.
Lauren Langman (11:13):
Actually, a lot of people wouldn't be able to do
that.
They're so desperate to makethem make friends.
I've had people um say to me,oh, we let them meet.
Linda Hughes (11:26):
When we went there , when the pup was like four
weeks old and I'm like reallywell, I've got no interest in
letting my dogs meet at fourweeks old like I don't want to
meet.
No, no, it's been, it was it, Idid it.
The.
The full integration took amonth, just day by day, by day.
Change.
Lauren Langman (11:35):
Give us a couple of tips and a couple of um
pointers as to what you did,because I I'm the same, I use
gated community.
I I'll carry them a little bit.
If they're a pup and if they'rean adult dog, I might have the
dog who's most neutral, off leadand a dog who's maybe like even
the pup they're not necessarilyneutral because what they want
to do is say hello, yeah.
So actually sometimes I'll putthat dog on a lead, so I'll put
the neutral dog.
So I remember um walking witheasy and she could.
(11:57):
She could greet another dog andcarry on.
But if that dog carried onannoying her, yeah, she'd have
to go, go away.
And so because I didn't want togo at the dog, I would put that
dog on a lead and I would walkmango, for example, great
example and mango be on a lead,easy would be off lead, mango,
be going, I'm a friend, I'm afriend, I'm a friend.
I'm a friend like tigger.
It's like having a friend liketigger and then you've got like
(12:19):
little piglet in the or andpiglet in the or don't really
need a tigger who's bouncing attheir face all the time, that
type of thing.
Linda Hughes (12:25):
So I, I'm, I make sure that I've been advocating
for the big dogs, constantlyadvocating for the big dogs,
because this puppy has attitude,yeah, and has taken over their
world.
Yes, uh, he's very strong, he'svery confident, far more
confident than Orla, really.
He just takes everything in hisstride.
There are certain things hereacts to, but not anything to
(12:46):
worry about.
He's very good, very confident,very, you know, in your face,
very feisty.
So there's a lot of I've done alot of advocating for the big
dogs.
Give me an example of how youmight advocate so, for instance
so first of all, out on the walk, ola looks at him like he's
something you know nasty thatthe cat brought in.
(13:09):
Oh, look at that, you know, andnot quite sure what to do, and
I just would go it's okay, ola,don't worry, you're okay, don't
worry.
And she'd go.
Oh, really, I just think I'llgo away.
But it just gives her thatreassurance and then gradually,
gradually, she's got closer andcloser to him.
So last night at the cottage hewas on the sofa with a tune.
(13:32):
The two girls came up and heactually tried to get them to go
away.
He went yeah, breathe, look athim.
So I went, look at him.
So I went it's okay, girls,it's okay.
And I've just pushed him back,you know not, I'm not horribly,
but just moved him back.
So I was like saying you goback there, these that you're
all right, girls, you're allright girls and then all got up
(13:55):
on the sofa and laid down let'smove ourselves away.
No, to sit next to him, oh, sitwith him.
He was like okay, so she's laiddown on the sofa, he trots
along the sofa and she looks athim and I watch her eyes.
So she looks at him and he'sactually being nice at this
point and he's trying to lickand her eyes are like nice and I
(14:19):
go good girl, and you're doing,and I know that her arousal's
going up and I'll go.
It's okay, oliver, you're okay,and if I see a lip start to go,
then I'll just move him away.
Lauren Langman (14:32):
I don't tell her off or move her.
Linda Hughes (14:36):
I just move him out of the equation.
And so the more I advocate andthe more I reassure them, the
more confident, the moreconfident they get around him,
you know, and I think ultimatelyUlla and Bobble will be great
friends.
I think they'll play chaseygames, because he's already
chasing her and she's watchinghim come and she's actually been
(14:59):
chasing him around the gardenat home.
My only concern is thatsometimes she has to jump over
him because he stops as far asshe's allowed to fly, so she
jumps to not stand on him.
Oh, they sound great.
So it's coming.
It's coming, but he will dothings like big dogs laying down
on the floor.
He gets a toy, he goes up tothe big dog, he drops the toy by
(15:23):
the big dog and then he standsback and barks at them.
So there's this little snapyappy thing and the big dog's
going.
Mom, I don't know what to dohere.
So funny.
Lauren Langman (15:36):
Well, I think we should do before we head out of
here because I think we've gotsome great listeners I think we
should do a quick tips tennis,like classifier tips to
introduce a new dog and I'mgonna say little and often, and
it's not like a race, so youdon't have to race.
That's my top tip.
No, number one is take yourtime, take your time, take time.
They're going to be together along time if they get on well.
(15:57):
I was dealing with a customerthis week whose dogs have fallen
out and he's just put them oncalm canine actually and already
having good results.
So his dog has gone on to calmcanine after attacking his other
dog and they've always livedtogether.
One's rising two and theother's six, and suddenly one's
attacked the other and never hadit before, both in time males
but, but no hormones in thehouse.
So, and no female hormones thatI'm aware of in the house, and
(16:19):
so he's on calm canine.
But also, you never really wantto get into that situation.
It's much harder when they'vegot a fallout.
So, yeah, fast is not the wayfor me.
Linda Hughes (16:27):
Slow and and successful and short, like
little sessions, go on yes yes,so also be careful of resources,
thoughtful on them for sure,very, very careful about toys,
bones, food, anything that'saround, because there could be
some some competition and pups,pups like the one I've got
believe they own everything,everything well, they also don't
(16:49):
see the danger?
Lauren Langman (16:50):
I think they don't, they don't.
So on that note, then anotherone for me with introducing dogs
, to actually know your dogs, soyou, like, you know alert.
You said I look into her eyes,or, for example, I know that
classic really can't handle apuppy on her face, she just
can't handle it, whereas blinkwill let them jump all over her
head.
So I also know what I've got,what I haven't.
Equally, and this is a reallybig one with blinking, though,
(17:12):
she'll allow them to jump allover her head, which she allowed
tokyo.
When tokyo was growing up, Iactually would often correct it
or interrupt it or improve himand and stop it happening,
because I knew that quitequickly once he grew up that was
not going to be appropriatebecause he would be too heavy
for her.
So 17 kilos landing on her headwasn't going to work.
So I actually think it startedfor me to go on.
Linda Hughes (17:31):
Yeah, I've been careful what you learn out of
them to realize.
Careful on the management, goon.
What's your next one?
So my next one would be do lotsof introductions or lots of
integration away from home, nice, nice, integration away from
(17:51):
home, nice, nice.
So on a lead, parallel walking,on a walk where it's safe, just
just monitoring them, but do doa lot of it away from home,
because then you haven't got the, the possessiveness or the
territorial issues and then, inline with that, crates, gates,
pens they all help for them tohave a presence.
Lauren Langman (18:07):
It doesn't mean access, lifestyle, so actually
everything is there, but itdoesn't mean you grab it or pull
it or go and play with it orgrab the bobble through the bars
and tug with him.
It's there but it's not alwayssomething you go to.
Linda Hughes (18:22):
So mine are all in the routines.
So Ulna's crates and she hasseveral in the house her crates
are her safe space.
She needs that and when shestarts to get angsty because
she's she would get angsty withpeeing, let alone bubble I just
say to her well, if you can'tcope, go in your house.
Yeah, and she goes, goes in herhouse and she's no, she's safe
(18:43):
there, and I just shut the door.
No.
And she's like, oh, thank godfor, and I just shut the door.
No.
And she's like, oh, thank godfor that I don't have to yeah,
get you know, I'd have to policeit all.
Lauren Langman (18:53):
Actually, my mom's way back, yeah, I think my
last one and for me would beyou don't have to play by anyone
else's rules.
So, for example, my mom wouldcome over to the house and she'd
say oh, it's cruel to keep themapart.
It's cruel, no, actually it'sright for me, it's right for the
dogs, and so I do keep some ofmy dogs apart if I don't feel
they're appropriate for eachother.
Right now, for example, blinkand brave and skittles love each
(19:16):
other, but they all play veryrough now.
Blinks had a surgery, so she'sa little bit sore.
Brave's got a spinal sort ofcondition, so she needs to be a
bit careful.
Sk.
Skit was bonkers.
So actually it's not alwaysappropriate to have them playing
or racing around.
So so it's not anyone else'srule.
It's your rule as to what'sappropriate for your dog and
what's appropriate for the, foreach individual dog.
Linda Hughes (19:37):
So all the needs a lot more downtime she needs.
She needs to have a breakbecause she won't take it for
herself.
Yeah, and it's not good for herpsychologically absolutely
winding herself up.
Absolutely the pup needs abreak because straight away,
being a toy breed, I noticedhe's very.
He could very easily haveseparation anxiety.
(19:57):
Interesting so I'm straightaway.
Lauren Langman (20:00):
He's lots of his pen and I'm, I'm away from him
and the other thing in terms ofintegration.
I know I was on my last tip, Iwant one more.
You were brilliant, like he'sstraight in the car with you.
Every time I said to you, linda, make sure he's traveling with
you.
Like, yeah, got that sortedeverywhere you go.
Right, because that's alsoseparation You're in the same
vehicle, but you are separated.
Linda Hughes (20:16):
Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, and I have a little system
that I do with all my p thefront seat next to me to begin
with, about a week.
Lauren Langman (20:32):
Yeah, and I don't let it go on too long,
yeah, so about a week, and myonly problem they're nice, I
quite like.
Linda Hughes (20:34):
From there I get a bit like oh I'm so cute, oh
you're so cute but if you leavethem there too long, I think
they're just cute, they can'tthen it's more difficult.
It is.
Lauren Langman (20:43):
It is the same as having them in the bedroom,
like I have them in the bedroomfor a bit, but then I'll
transition down me.
Linda Hughes (20:48):
He's still in the bedroom but he's in a crate, but
he's so cute, but he's got tobe transitioned out, but yeah.
So then he's because he's sotiny, of course the crate's in
my van.
I've been to all the coniesthat I've got, so I had to buy
(21:09):
into a container because I couldjust imagine him slopping about
in the back.
Lauren Langman (21:11):
Just so cute, just so cute.
Well, linda, thank you.
Introducing a new dog to yourhome doesn't need to be that
stressful, doesn't need to behard and, like you said,
actually it's pretty easythrough the absolute dog's way.
It is well done, linda, linda.
Welcome to the Absolute Dog Sex in a Squirrel
podcast.
I'm Lauren Langman.
I'm one of the world's leadingdog trainers and it's my mission
to help owners become theirdog's top priority.
In each episode, you'lldiscover how to gain trust and
communicate with your dog likenever before, creating
unbreakable bonds that make youthe most exciting part of their
world.
Okay, so today we're talkingbringing home a new dog, or
(00:33):
introducing a puppy to thehousehold and, lovely Linda, you
have just done very this.
How hard has it been, howdifficult has it been, how much
of a struggle has it been tobring in a new puppy, and
actually, how has it been?
How difficult has it been?
How much of a struggle has itbeen to bring in a new puppy and
actually, how has it beendifferent to what you maybe have
done in the past?
Linda Hughes (00:51):
So it actually has been fairly simple,
straightforward, but it hastaken a lot of work and
knowledge on my part to make itsimple and straightforward.
Lauren Langman (01:02):
So give us a scenario who do you own and what
are the household dynamics?
So I take it, when we'relistening to this simple and
straightforward sounds like youown three happy-go-lucky
Labradors.
Actually, I know different.
I know you actually own naughtybut nice dogs who potentially
wouldn't tolerate a puppy, letalone a one kilo puppy, the size
of maybe a guinea pig or less,and actually a very, very
(01:23):
opinionated puppy.
And so he's quite bouncy andenergetic and yet he's tiny, so
this ball of fluff actuallycould be quite easily harmed.
Yes, in a normal household, sothe, so the.
Linda Hughes (01:34):
I have three border collies.
I'll have three good colleagues.
My oldest boy is 10 and he'sabout 20, 22 kilograms, so he's
fairly large for a Border Colliebut he's naughty but nice with
other dogs but he's very goodwith puppies.
But I know he disciplinespuppies by putting his foot on
(01:59):
them.
So step one was we can't havePing, which is we were talking
about being off by the puppy andgoing just you behave yourself,
because we've got this tinylittle one kilogram puppy,
poodle puppy, that he could justbreak his neck if you put his
foot on it.
So that was that's number one.
But I knew that temperamentallyhe would be more accepting of
(02:20):
the puppy than the other two,who are the two girls.
The middle girl, another madborder collie I would have, I
would expect her to ignore.
And the, the most problematicone is my ulla, whom you love,
who I love dearly, the best girl.
We love her dearly, but she'sshe's so obsessive, compulsive,
(02:44):
sensitive, reactive, everything,and I knew that she would find
it very, very difficult.
Lauren Langman (02:53):
And when you say difficult, what might you
expect from a dog like Ullabringing a new dog into the
house?
And you guys, when we'retalking to you, this could be a
new adult dog, this could be anew puppy, this could be a new
rescue dog, this could be a newdog to your household, and I
think that's a really importantbit.
Linda Hughes (03:07):
It's a new rescue dog.
This could be a new dog to yourhousehold and I think that's a
really important bit.
It's a new dog to yourhousehold.
It's just a new member of thepack.
Lauren Langman (03:11):
I would have expected her to go for the puppy
.
Okay, so there's a chance ofsome sharpness, yes, and I think
that's really uh important andand good to be aware of.
Is there any sharpness there?
Could there be any sharpnessthere?
Is there something we need toidentify or acknowledge?
Okay, so when you tell me it'sbeen pretty simple and pretty
easy, what's helped with that orwhat's enabled that, or why is
your journey different todaythan it was, say, five years ago
(03:32):
, what's what's?
Linda Hughes (03:32):
changed my whole journey through absolute dogs
and pdt and everything.
Lauren Langman (03:37):
Wow, that's cool that is pretty cool.
So your whole journey haschanged the way you potentially
manage a multi-dog household orintroduce a new dog, or
introduce a puppy, or eventravel away with your dogs.
Linda Hughes (03:50):
My understanding of dogs, my ability to read dogs
, my ability to see what'shappening in front of me, to
plan, to manage all of that.
Lauren Langman (03:59):
I'll give you a really quick example.
I'd love you to give me someexamples.
Last night I've got a new teammember here.
We were having dinner, and whenI'm having dinner I really want
to know that my dogs are stillcared for, because I know that
sometimes I'm working 12 hourdays, maybe 15 hour days,
sometimes 16 hour days too longa day, I get it, but I choose to
work that.
My dogs don't choose for me towork that.
So when I've got long days Iwill have a team and I
definitely have help.
(04:19):
So those of you go, how do youdo it all I have help.
And I heard this awful screaming.
No one was getting hurt, no onewas dying.
It was someone's being fed andI'm really angry about it.
And so I chatted to our newteam member and I said to him
okay, if you're gonna feed, youactually don't let anyone know
(04:40):
you're gonna feed.
So the first rule of feedingfor me is it's impromptu and we
don't know anyone's gonna be fed.
And he was to give blink a meal, because blinks sort of to be
honest, she's actually quitelight.
A lot of the time she's beenout in the gardens a lot, she's
running around a lot and soactually, she is a dog who runs
quite light and so she washaving a meal, but not everyone
was having a meal, and so whenhe was giving that food, he ran
(05:01):
it past everyone.
So everyone saw it, everyonerealized blink was having food
and everyone realized they werenot getting food, and so, like
chaos ensued.
And so for me, if I'm going tofeed everyone, fair enough, I'm
going to look at that dynamic.
But also, if I'm going to feedone dog, I look at that dynamic,
and what I would do, personally, if I'm going to feed blink was
the dog that was getting a bitof a top up, a bit extra.
What I would do is I would puteveryone in gardens or spaces
(05:23):
where they're happy.
So for me, I've got you can see, we've got quite a cool setup.
We've got front yard, we've gotbackyard, we've got a side
garden, we've got a garden overthere.
I put the dogs out intodifferent spaces and then blink
would go in and into a pen or acrate or another garden where
she can have her food, butnobody else knows she's having
her food because I haven'tstarted preparing it until
everyone else is out.
So everyone else goes out andthen I'll stop preparing it.
(05:45):
However, I might do itcompletely differently.
I might do um, everyone out andblink gets a scatter feed
somewhere.
Or I might do let's go in thevan for a road trip and let's
give blink a kong in the van.
Like I just vary it.
And the thing that I don'trealize or I suppose I do
realize more and more is thatother people don't do that and
that's where chaos ensuesbecause you can imagine it, they
(06:08):
think it's feed time and noteveryone gets fed.
And the frustrations there,disappointments there, and
suddenly you got screaming and Iwas just really shocked at
quite how noisy wild was, justbecause she thought blink was
gonna get fed without her.
Like it really shocked mebecause she's just not with me,
but I've really ditched theroutine on my feeding um, how
about you?
Linda Hughes (06:23):
but what you're saying is your knowledge of what
could happen.
Oh, so it gives you foresightso that you can then manage a
situation and set a situation upfor your dogs to be successful.
Lauren Langman (06:34):
Brilliant.
Thank you for translating forthe poor world that's trying to
cope with the speed and and whatwe're doing.
High five to that as well,linda.
And because it is, it's that,it's that prep and planning and
it's so ingrained in me to do it.
Now it's so ingrained is is tookay, you need a bit extra,
because I I ditch the bowl, Ifeed raw, I feed a variety of
good kibbles as well where I'mtraining, or hand hand cooked
(06:57):
foods.
But I'll sometimes feel oversomeone.
People say how do you do thatwhen you got 10 dogs?
Well, the way I do it is, Ifeel over them and I go, you
feel a little bit heavy or youfeel a little bit light, and so
they'll get a bit extra that way.
But it is always oh, you'regoing back in the van to travel
okay, you have a handful in thatcrate.
Or you're going back here youhave a tripe stick, or you're
doing this, you have that, butyou're always kind of like
(07:17):
moving it, but but also you'realways thinking ahead and you're
ahead of the game.
Linda Hughes (07:22):
Whereas a lot of people don't do that.
They don't have that foresightof what the result is going to
be in what they're doing.
So for me, bringing this newdog in, I probably, five or ten
years ago, would have broughtthe puppy in.
I would have penned it.
I was into pens at that pointso it would have gone in a pen,
(07:43):
but I would have probably triedto introduce the other dogs to
it in the house fairly early on.
That didn't happen.
So the puppy was brought home.
It was penned.
The other dogs were keptseparate.
I've got a baited community.
There's plenty of baby gatesall over the place, so they were
(08:05):
other dogs were never in thesame room.
They knew it was there becauseI think I can smell it bubbles
here, I smell here.
Lauren Langman (08:12):
There's a stranger in the place.
I've got a very funny story onsmelling things very quickly
skittle.
The other day I had a friend'sdog come to stay.
She's called sheba the queen ofsheba, nonetheless than the
queen and the queen of sheba wasstaying in the house and she
was on skittle's bed.
Now skittle was in the gardenso skittle didn't even really
know she was in the housebecause actually most of the
time I manage my scenario.
(08:33):
So you're out, you're in.
It's like a rotation systemonce you're in 10 dogs there's
no going back.
You, just you, you.
You live a multi-dog householdso you're kind of used to
rotating and managing andeverything else.
Anyway, skittle got on her bedlast night and she literally
went and just like, looked likereally horrified.
You know when some dogs areprickly like hormonal looking.
She's had that prickly momentwith some dogs that even notice
(08:55):
blinks, just so sweet and niceshe doesn't notice anything.
Skittle honestly looked likeshe'd stood in a porcupine.
She was just like horrifiedthat she could smell the queen
of shiba on her bed and she waslike this is not okay and it's a
, it's a pmf bed, so it's like amassage bed, so you can't
really wash it or it's a.
It's a and it sets like amagnetic.
Yeah, I've got a very nice bed.
(09:16):
Not when you wash sk all livid,but that type of thing, right,
some dogs smell, so they'd haveknown.
Linda Hughes (09:22):
They knew Bobble was in the house.
Yes, they knew he was in thehouse, but they didn't didn't
get to mix with him.
And then a couple after acouple of days I mean he was, he
was going out for a walk on hisown, so he'd go on the van but
he would get a little wander andthen go back on the van and
then I'd take the others for alittle sniff around.
And then I went to a friendaway from home and I was giving
(09:44):
the dogs, the two girls who werethe two most problematic.
They were having a little legstretch before I went to a
training session.
So I took the puppy out of thevan, carried him to this
heathland, let the girls go fortheir wander, put him down on
the ground and walked and theyboth came back and went oh
(10:09):
that's, their eyes were out onstalks.
They knew what, he, who, theyknew he'd come from home, they
knew the connection.
But they there was the firstface-to-face meeting and I said
come on, let's walk, and theywon't move forward.
He tried to run after them Ilove it.
Lauren Langman (10:26):
They knew he came from home.
Linda Hughes (10:29):
I did that was the same smell.
Oh, that's that thing that'sbeen.
Lauren Langman (10:32):
That's that little gray thing that's been at
home and they can imagine likethat little grey turd yes, or
that chunk chaser toy that Inever got to get hold of.
Linda Hughes (10:45):
She would just be like a little fluff.
They ran off.
He ran after them, this littleblack thing running after them,
he's so lovely, they outran himand he just went.
Oh okay, then I'll go back tomy mum.
I haven't got him on a line, alead or anything.
Just let him go.
Let him get on with it.
That's a nice scenario Neutralterritory.
(11:07):
Sandy was a bit afraid of him,but also a few days in, I think
that's really important.
Lauren Langman (11:13):
Actually, a lot of people wouldn't be able to do
that.
They're so desperate to makethem make friends.
I've had people um say to me,oh, we let them meet.
Linda Hughes (11:26):
When we went there , when the pup was like four
weeks old and I'm like reallywell, I've got no interest in
letting my dogs meet at fourweeks old like I don't want to
meet.
No, no, it's been, it was it, Idid it.
The.
The full integration took amonth, just day by day, by day.
Change.
Lauren Langman (11:35):
Give us a couple of tips and a couple of um
pointers as to what you did,because I I'm the same, I use
gated community.
I I'll carry them a little bit.
If they're a pup and if they'rean adult dog, I might have the
dog who's most neutral, off leadand a dog who's maybe like even
the pup they're not necessarilyneutral because what they want
to do is say hello, yeah.
So actually sometimes I'll putthat dog on a lead, so I'll put
the neutral dog.
So I remember um walking witheasy and she could.
(11:57):
She could greet another dog andcarry on.
But if that dog carried onannoying her, yeah, she'd have
to go, go away.
And so because I didn't want togo at the dog, I would put that
dog on a lead and I would walkmango, for example, great
example and mango be on a lead,easy would be off lead, mango,
be going, I'm a friend, I'm afriend, I'm a friend.
I'm a friend like tigger.
It's like having a friend liketigger and then you've got like
(12:19):
little piglet in the or andpiglet in the or don't really
need a tigger who's bouncing attheir face all the time, that
type of thing.
Linda Hughes (12:25):
So I, I'm, I make sure that I've been advocating
for the big dogs, constantlyadvocating for the big dogs,
because this puppy has attitude,yeah, and has taken over their
world.
Yes, uh, he's very strong, he'svery confident, far more
confident than Orla, really.
He just takes everything in hisstride.
There are certain things hereacts to, but not anything to
(12:46):
worry about.
He's very good, very confident,very, you know, in your face,
very feisty.
So there's a lot of I've done alot of advocating for the big
dogs.
Give me an example of how youmight advocate so, for instance
so first of all, out on the walk, ola looks at him like he's
something you know nasty thatthe cat brought in.
(13:09):
Oh, look at that, you know, andnot quite sure what to do, and
I just would go it's okay, ola,don't worry, you're okay, don't
worry.
And she'd go.
Oh, really, I just think I'llgo away.
But it just gives her thatreassurance and then gradually,
gradually, she's got closer andcloser to him.
So last night at the cottage hewas on the sofa with a tune.
(13:32):
The two girls came up and heactually tried to get them to go
away.
He went yeah, breathe, look athim.
So I went, look at him.
So I went it's okay, girls,it's okay.
And I've just pushed him back,you know not, I'm not horribly,
but just moved him back.
So I was like saying you goback there, these that you're
all right, girls, you're allright girls and then all got up
(13:55):
on the sofa and laid down let'smove ourselves away.
No, to sit next to him, oh, sitwith him.
He was like okay, so she's laiddown on the sofa, he trots
along the sofa and she looks athim and I watch her eyes.
So she looks at him and he'sactually being nice at this
point and he's trying to lickand her eyes are like nice and I
(14:19):
go good girl, and you're doing,and I know that her arousal's
going up and I'll go.
It's okay, oliver, you're okay,and if I see a lip start to go,
then I'll just move him away.
Lauren Langman (14:32):
I don't tell her off or move her.
Linda Hughes (14:36):
I just move him out of the equation.
And so the more I advocate andthe more I reassure them, the
more confident, the moreconfident they get around him,
you know, and I think ultimatelyUlla and Bobble will be great
friends.
I think they'll play chaseygames, because he's already
chasing her and she's watchinghim come and she's actually been
(14:59):
chasing him around the gardenat home.
My only concern is thatsometimes she has to jump over
him because he stops as far asshe's allowed to fly, so she
jumps to not stand on him.
Oh, they sound great.
So it's coming.
It's coming, but he will dothings like big dogs laying down
on the floor.
He gets a toy, he goes up tothe big dog, he drops the toy by
(15:23):
the big dog and then he standsback and barks at them.
So there's this little snapyappy thing and the big dog's
going.
Mom, I don't know what to dohere.
So funny.
Lauren Langman (15:36):
Well, I think we should do before we head out of
here because I think we've gotsome great listeners I think we
should do a quick tips tennis,like classifier tips to
introduce a new dog and I'mgonna say little and often, and
it's not like a race, so youdon't have to race.
That's my top tip.
No, number one is take yourtime, take your time, take time.
They're going to be together along time if they get on well.
(15:57):
I was dealing with a customerthis week whose dogs have fallen
out and he's just put them oncalm canine actually and already
having good results.
So his dog has gone on to calmcanine after attacking his other
dog and they've always livedtogether.
One's rising two and theother's six, and suddenly one's
attacked the other and never hadit before, both in time males
but, but no hormones in thehouse.
So, and no female hormones thatI'm aware of in the house, and
(16:19):
so he's on calm canine.
But also, you never really wantto get into that situation.
It's much harder when they'vegot a fallout.
So, yeah, fast is not the wayfor me.
Linda Hughes (16:27):
Slow and and successful and short, like
little sessions, go on yes yes,so also be careful of resources,
thoughtful on them for sure,very, very careful about toys,
bones, food, anything that'saround, because there could be
some some competition and pups,pups like the one I've got
believe they own everything,everything well, they also don't
(16:49):
see the danger?
Lauren Langman (16:50):
I think they don't, they don't.
So on that note, then anotherone for me with introducing dogs
, to actually know your dogs, soyou, like, you know alert.
You said I look into her eyes,or, for example, I know that
classic really can't handle apuppy on her face, she just
can't handle it, whereas blinkwill let them jump all over her
head.
So I also know what I've got,what I haven't.
Equally, and this is a reallybig one with blinking, though,
(17:12):
she'll allow them to jump allover her head, which she allowed
tokyo.
When tokyo was growing up, Iactually would often correct it
or interrupt it or improve himand and stop it happening,
because I knew that quitequickly once he grew up that was
not going to be appropriatebecause he would be too heavy
for her.
So 17 kilos landing on her headwasn't going to work.
So I actually think it startedfor me to go on.
Linda Hughes (17:31):
Yeah, I've been careful what you learn out of
them to realize.
Careful on the management, goon.
What's your next one?
So my next one would be do lotsof introductions or lots of
integration away from home, nice, nice, integration away from
(17:51):
home, nice, nice.
So on a lead, parallel walking,on a walk where it's safe, just
just monitoring them, but do doa lot of it away from home,
because then you haven't got the, the possessiveness or the
territorial issues and then, inline with that, crates, gates,
pens they all help for them tohave a presence.
Lauren Langman (18:07):
It doesn't mean access, lifestyle, so actually
everything is there, but itdoesn't mean you grab it or pull
it or go and play with it orgrab the bobble through the bars
and tug with him.
It's there but it's not alwayssomething you go to.
Linda Hughes (18:22):
So mine are all in the routines.
So Ulna's crates and she hasseveral in the house her crates
are her safe space.
She needs that and when shestarts to get angsty because
she's she would get angsty withpeeing, let alone bubble I just
say to her well, if you can'tcope, go in your house.
Yeah, and she goes, goes in herhouse and she's no, she's safe
(18:43):
there, and I just shut the door.
No.
And she's like, oh, thank godfor, and I just shut the door.
No.
And she's like, oh, thank godfor that I don't have to yeah,
get you know, I'd have to policeit all.
Lauren Langman (18:53):
Actually, my mom's way back, yeah, I think my
last one and for me would beyou don't have to play by anyone
else's rules.
So, for example, my mom wouldcome over to the house and she'd
say oh, it's cruel to keep themapart.
It's cruel, no, actually it'sright for me, it's right for the
dogs, and so I do keep some ofmy dogs apart if I don't feel
they're appropriate for eachother.
Right now, for example, blinkand brave and skittles love each
(19:16):
other, but they all play veryrough now.
Blinks had a surgery, so she'sa little bit sore.
Brave's got a spinal sort ofcondition, so she needs to be a
bit careful.
Sk.
Skit was bonkers.
So actually it's not alwaysappropriate to have them playing
or racing around.
So so it's not anyone else'srule.
It's your rule as to what'sappropriate for your dog and
what's appropriate for the, foreach individual dog.
Linda Hughes (19:37):
So all the needs a lot more downtime she needs.
She needs to have a breakbecause she won't take it for
herself.
Yeah, and it's not good for herpsychologically absolutely
winding herself up.
Absolutely the pup needs abreak because straight away,
being a toy breed, I noticedhe's very.
He could very easily haveseparation anxiety.
(19:57):
Interesting so I'm straightaway.
Lauren Langman (20:00):
He's lots of his pen and I'm, I'm away from him
and the other thing in terms ofintegration.
I know I was on my last tip, Iwant one more.
You were brilliant, like he'sstraight in the car with you.
Every time I said to you, linda, make sure he's traveling with
you.
Like, yeah, got that sortedeverywhere you go.
Right, because that's alsoseparation You're in the same
vehicle, but you are separated.
Linda Hughes (20:16):
Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, and I have a little system
that I do with all my p thefront seat next to me to begin
with, about a week.
Lauren Langman (20:32):
Yeah, and I don't let it go on too long,
yeah, so about a week, and myonly problem they're nice, I
quite like.
Linda Hughes (20:34):
From there I get a bit like oh I'm so cute, oh
you're so cute but if you leavethem there too long, I think
they're just cute, they can'tthen it's more difficult.
It is.
Lauren Langman (20:43):
It is the same as having them in the bedroom,
like I have them in the bedroomfor a bit, but then I'll
transition down me.
Linda Hughes (20:48):
He's still in the bedroom but he's in a crate, but
he's so cute, but he's got tobe transitioned out, but yeah.
So then he's because he's sotiny, of course the crate's in
my van.
I've been to all the coniesthat I've got, so I had to buy
(21:09):
into a container because I couldjust imagine him slopping about
in the back.
Lauren Langman (21:11):
Just so cute, just so cute.
Well, linda, thank you.
Introducing a new dog to yourhome doesn't need to be that
stressful, doesn't need to behard and, like you said,
actually it's pretty easythrough the absolute dog's way.
It is well done, linda, linda.
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