You already own a dog and now you think it is time to get another one.

Maybe because your dog is getting older and you want to give him a chance to teach a young one how to be your perfect companion or perhaps because you feel that a dog is always better off when he is with someone of his own kind.

Over the years I have introduced many puppies to the dogs living in my household and not once did I come across any serious problem.

My routine is a very simple one and it rests on three principles:

1. The older dog always comes first

2. The older dog is never put into second place

3. The older dog is never scolded for setting boundaries for the puppy

This means that visitors to my house must always make a fuss of the older dog first before they pay attention to the puppy. This way I make sure that my older dog's feelings don't get hurt and no jealousy arises.

When food is being handed out, the old dog gets fed first, the puppy follows. Of course puppies need to be fed more often and so my older one always gets a little something in his bowl too.

Never ever feed puppy and dog together without close supervision!

Puppies, as you can remember from when your older dog was young, can be a menace. Their teeth are sharp and very pointed and they just don't accept No for an answer. This is why the older dog can get bothered quite a bit and needs to set boundaries. This may look more dangerous than it actually is. The growl and sudden snapping is meant to frighten the puppy away - often resulting in a scream from the baby as it tries to inhibit the older's aggression instinctively. Don't punish your older dog when this happens, it is quite a normal thing for canines to do.

Always watch the pair of them and protect your older dog from puppy attacks if he tries to get away and shows his disgust.

Never allow your older dog to teach the puppy the rules of the house by putting a toy in front of himself, tempting the puppy to take it. This causes problems because in his eagerness to protect his toy or bone the older dog may accidentally injure the puppy.

And now: Action

Introducing puppy to older dog

1. Some time before puppy arrives tell older dog that he will have a new friend soon. Tell him all about the baby and specifically ask him to accept it and be a very good foster mummy or foster daddy

2. When the day has come, make sure that someone is with your older dog when you arrive home with the puppy - you need two people to do this right.

Make sure there are no toys about as this may cause problems.

3. Carry your puppy in your arms to the door and bring him into a room of your choice, put him down so he can do a piddle and explore a little.

4. Ask second person to pick puppy up whilst you leave the room to greet your dog, reenter room with you older dog on the lead. Approach other person and puppy and allow your dog to sniff the puppy. If your dog shows no aggression, put puppy down. Your older dog will want to investigate the puppy, being all excited.

5. You sit on the floor with your dog and your puppy and watch the two of them, making sure that nothing bad happens.

6. Allow your dog to go away if he feels he has had enough.

It is quite normal for your dog to feel a bit disgusted by the youngster but this will soon pass, provided you follow the Do's and Don'ts.

Canines are very sociable animals and they will soon make friends, given a week or two.