8 Pets, Zero Patience for BS: My Pet Introduction Method

Forget everything you've read about introducing pets.
Every expert will tell you to keep new animals separated for weeks. Scent swap through closed doors. Slowly introduce them through baby gates. Gradual exposure over months.

I call BS.

I've introduced 8 pets to each other over 13 years — dogs, cats, rabbits, a cockatiel — and I've never done any of that. Want to know what I do instead?

It Started with Remington

My husband and I found our first dog together on Craigslist back when Craigslist was still a thing. The listing said "free to good home" and warned he'd be going to the pound within hours. He was supposed to be a 2-year old pit bull named Kilo.

We drove over immediately and brought him home. The name had to change — we called him Remington.

After a few days, we thought we understood why they'd given him away. He seemed stupid. Didn't listen to anything we said. Completely unresponsive.

Then we figured it out: he wasn't stupid. He was deaf.

This dog became one of the best damn dogs either of us ever had. We taught him hand signals. He learned fast and was incredibly loyal.

We thought we'd have him for years.We did — just way more than we expected. When Remington died of old age, the vet told us he was 19 years old. He hadn't been 2 when we got him. He'd been much, much older.

That's where it all started. Remington was with us for most of the core additions we have now.Each animal came to us differently — some we chose, most just found us. And with each one, I learned what actually works.

My Actual Method (The One That Works)

Here's what I do when I bring home a new pet:

Step 1: Bring the new animal into the house. Depending on the animal, I'll have them in my arms, a carrier, or a box.

Step 2: Let my existing pets smell the newcomer. Right away. No barriers, no separation.

Step 3: If anyone gets too excited or pushy, I tell them to "back up and be easy." Usually that's enough.Occasionally I have to physically nudge someone back.

Step 4: Act like everything is perfectly normal. Because it is.

That's it.

Is there excitement? Absolutely. Sometimes the new pet hisses or shows a fear response. But it's minimal, and my animals know not to react to it. A stern "back up and be easy" keeps everyone in check.

I've never had a single issue bringing in new animals this way.

Why This Works (When the "Expert" Methods Don't)

Here's the thing: if I hid a new animal behind a gate or door, my house would become an all-out war zone.

My pets would know someone was in their space. They'd hear them, smell them, sense them — but not be able to see or meet them. That new animal wouldn't be a friend. They'd be an intruder.

By bringing them in openly from day one, I'm telling my existing pets: "This is normal. This is family now. Everyone chill."

And they do.

What My House Actually Looks Like

I live with 8 animals who all have different personalities, different temperaments, and different species. Dogs,cats, rabbits, a cockatiel. They all get along perfectly.

Not saying they don't squabble from time to time — I'm constantly yelling at Ghost to stop chasing the cats —but they know each other. They've been family from day one.

If you came to my house, you'd see a cat sitting next to the cockatiel while the bird sings songs to him. You'd see rabbits chilling with dogs and cats on the floor together. It's chaos, but it's peaceful chaos.

Am I Worried When I Bring Someone New In?

Of course.

I wouldn't be a good pet parent if I didn't expect the worst before bringing in a new animal. I run through the scenarios: Who's gonna get mad? Who's gonna act a fool? How are my guys gonna react to this one?

But every single time, they surprise me. They're curious, maybe a little excited, but never aggressive. Never territorial

.I've been very blessed. Or maybe I just know my pets well enough to trust the process.

The Bottom Line

Screw what the gurus want you to pay for. Listen to the animal hoarder over here.

You don't need a complicated multi-week introduction plan. You don't need baby gates and scent swapping and behavioral consultants.

You just need to know YOUR animals and trust your instincts.

I don't socialize my pets with animals outside the house. I don't take them to dog parks — that feels like asking for problems. But inside our home? My guys are the most loving, accepting crew I could ask for.

So if you're stressed about introducing a new pet, take a breath.

If it works for a house with 8 pets across 4 species, it'll probably work for you too.

Have questions about managing a multi-pet household? Drop a comment — I've probably dealt with it.