When we express our love of animals by bringing dogs into our lives and into our homes, we assume a total responsibility for them. This assumed responsibility extends from our home to our friends, neighbors and community. These dogs, from which we gain so much pleasure, have minds of their own and need to be under our constant control and supervision.
Siberians are pack animals and generally socialize well with each other. They like company, and many Siberian owners will buy another Siberian to keep the original pet company. The interaction between the two Siberians often provides their owners with a source of amusement and pleasure.
When dog owners decide to add more dogs to their home pack, they often blindly assume that if two dogs co-exist companionably, a third or fourth will also adapt well, and they will form a homogenous group. This kind of thinking only leads to disastrous reality. Real life demands that you closely observe the behavior of the dogs you own with a new puppy or older dog that you have brought into your home
The new dog you bring into your home has the basic instinct to trust you. A dogs association with strange humans is far less traumatic than with strange dogs because it's part of a domesticated dogs nature to depend on humans. It fears the other dogs and needs to learn its place in the hierarchy of the new dog pack. Humans are usually more easily dealt with; the other dogs are its biggest threat.
An older dog may feel trapped and will snap and growl in response, even while maintaining a submissive posture toward the other dogs. This behavior electrifies all the dogs, and this is why you need leads and handlers for each dog when introducing them to one another. It is grossly unfair to introduce a new dog to several old-timers all at once. A one-on-one introduction...one new dog, with one old dog... is fair and proper. Do not lead a new dog through a group of dogs, even if you know they will not hurt it. The new dog doesn't know that the other dogs won't harm it. Remember, this dog depends on you for psychological support and physical protection. It trust you and fears the other dogs. Thoughtless introductions of any kind can upset the balance of your group and cause problems that will take a lot of effort to resolve. Far better to avoid problems than to create them and then have to spend time solving them.
Many problems may be caused by carelessness in the original introductions. A poor start could develop instant hostilities that are difficult to correct between dogs. Think of it like getting off on the wrong foot with a new neighbor.
The pay-off for using common dog sense when dealing with a new dog in a new home is long-lasting and beneficial. You obviously need to be kind to a new dog and keep its mental and physical well-being paramount in your mind. For example, never kennel a new dog between two dogs that act aggressively towards it. Never feed dogs in groups unless you are there to supervise; feed them in individual crates or runs. When in group play, do not show favorites; give each dog its due attention.
With a well-thought-out means of assimilation, your old dogs and your new dog will adjust well to each other's company. The kindness and thoughtfulness that you show your new dog during its stressful transition in its new home will strengthen the bonding process between your new dog and you. The peaceable kingdom is a lovely dream, and maybe, with a lot of planning, it will come true for you!