Introducing an old boy to a incumbent old girl

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I've decided to adopt a 2nd rescue dog and want to get the introductions as right as possible.
Dogs will only have to deal with each other and me!

Cassie - current female staffy cross is 6.5 years old and been with me for 2.5 years.
She's OK with other dogs on walks (except female staffies) so long as they don't get too personal with her and is usually off lead.
She doesn't seek out contact with other dogs but will join in for a bit if they are playing.
She's had a couple of squabbles over toys with a dog we walk with and has picked on a nervous lurcher once.

She's not had other dogs in 'her' house for any length of time but I did borrow a known female lurcher for a couple of hours last week.
She greeted the other dog with a sniff and a wag and then retreated to her safe corner and snoozed with one or both eyes open for the rest of the visit.

New dog will be a 7 year old male Malamute cross GSD who has been in rescue kennels for a while. During that time, I've walked him many times and am now ready to offer him a home. He's not dog reactive out on walks but has failed a home trial with a female husky after a serious argument over who should go through a door first! He will very likely be on lead only.

I will have a dog behaviorist on hand for the initial meetings who has also met my dog and has seen the videos of her meeting the lurcher at home.

Both dogs are quite laid back, very people friendly and not hyper excitable. As far as I know, neither have lived with another dog,

So far:-
Initial meeting will be a walk followed by some time in a paddock at the kennels - probably all on lead.
Initial home meeting will be with new dog on lead and possibly with a muzzle - suggested by the kennels.
Beds will in opposite corners of the living room and new dog will be discouraged from sleeping in current 'safe corner'
Food will be served apart
Current dog sleeps upstairs and will continue to do so
I'll try new dog downstairs only - he's big and hairy so don't want to let him in bedroom
When I'm out both dogs will be confined to the same open plan living / kitchen area - no doorways!

Any other suggestions to try and get it right?

Cassie at the seaside

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Thanks for the advice - taking them for a reasonable walk together just before going home sounds a good idea.

It will be an interesting few weeks!

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First meeting tomorrow.

Here's a view of the newcomer to put the wind up the old girl!

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Introductions at the kennels went very well.
Initial sniffs, then walked well together followed by some paddock time.
New boy tried a bit of a play but didn't go over the top and was largely ignored by Cassie.

No signs of stress from either dog and they were fine being fussed together.

Now onto stage 2 - a home visit or three starting next week.

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Right, we've had three home visits of between 3 - 5 hours and the jury is still out.

New dog is not being very tolerant of resource sharing and I'm finding it hard to read his hairy body language.

Resources include me, doorways, shared spaces and treats - not yet tried mealtimes. Outside on walks are fine.

When current dog is close by, waiting for an event like going out or coming over for a cuddle, she is very calm.
New dog also appears calm but then suddenly whips round with a rather convincing snarl - no pre-snarl growl that I notice.

I can manage doorways and treats OK, but not sure if this behaviour while trying to have cuddle time with the current dog is going to be something I can cope with.

I'm also concerned about leaving them together for any period, which I will need to be doing reasonably quickly.
This was prompted by an event on day 2 when current dog was on bench outside - I was watching from inside. New dog was sniffing outside when he suddenly elevated his tail and marched over to the bench and sort of went head to head. Nothing happened and I called him away fine, but the behaviour worried me. It was not a pre-play sort of greeting, more either excitement or possibly a precursor to aggression.

I'm speaking to the kennels and a behaviorist - any more advice from the knowledgeable community here?

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Well, I persevered for a while but I couldn't get the new dog to stop initiating squabbles with my current dog.

Careful management minimised issues but I couldn't monitor them all the time and I wasn't seeing any improvement over a few nights at home.

So, back to the kennels he has gone. I will continue to walk him there and really hope he finds a home - probably as a only pet.

Thanks for the advice and comments here - they helped!

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moorx said:

Well done for trying.

Will keep my fingers crossed for him. Will you keep looking?

Thanks - yes, I'll keep an eye on the intake at my local rescue and be ready to try again.

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Just to update the thread.

I've had another go - 6 year old Lurcher Archie has been home a few days now and all is going well.
Cassie is getting more accepting every day and there have been no squabbles over resources.