So you're adding a new puppy/dog to your family and you already have other pets. While depending on your other pet's personality, traits, breed, and of course whether or not your existing pet(s) is a cat, dog or both, you could have an easy go of it or a rough go.
Here are a great number of strategies and tips in order to make their first meeting, and hopefully every other meeting thereafter, goes smoothly.
Let's start with introducing your new puppy/dog to a cat.
One good strategy is when looking for a breeder find out if they have cats. If you find one that does, then half the battle is already one, as your new puppy will already be used to cats.
Another thing to keep in mind is the breed you're after, as most dogs, especially if gotten young enough, are fully accepting of cats, but some like a Husky have a higher prey drive, so they may play rougher and accidentally hurt your cat.
So make sure the breed you are getting is a good fit. But as said, if gotten young enough, just about any breed can be taught to accept cats and it is a lot easier to introduce an adult cat to a dog then vice versa, as one good swat from the cat will let your new puppy know whose boss.
Now for their first meeting it's best to keep you new puppy on a leash at the start. This way you can easily observe what each one does with one another. If you like what you see, continue to supervise, but let your puppy off the leash. Then if either starts to get to rough, put him back on the leash until things settle down and try again.
Another good strategy is to examine your home and find some of your cat's favorite spots. Now see which of these spots you can keep dog free. This can be done as easily as sticking up a gate to one of your cat's favorite rooms. This can also lead them to get to know one another better as they tease each other from opposite sides of the gate.
You really only need one spot, but if you make a few, your cat will always have some place to go, making your cat still get the feeling of being in charge and hopefully making your cat more accepting to the new puppy.
Make sure your cat has a safe place to eat also, put your cat's food up a higher so the puppy can't get at it, giving him a safe environment to eat. This is yet another factor that gives your cat the sense of feeling of still being in charge.
If you can't supervise and still feel weary about leaving them alone together, put the puppy in a crate. Again giving your cat the full run of the house while the puppy has to learn to respect the cat or access is limited.
Now for introducing you puppy/dog to another dog.
The best thing you can do is let them meet on neutral ground, say a park or at someone else's house. You can even consider taking your dog to the breeder's to meet the puppy, if of course you're allowed and think your dog will be fine with it.
Make sure there is nothing around to bring on aggression, like food or a favorite toy. Also try to let them have as much space as needed to get to know one another, while at the same time trying to keep them from getting overly excited, as one might nip the other creating a bad first meeting.
Make sure you still give your dog the same amount of attention as he's always been used to getting. Keep the pecking order the same until they both become used to one another and then don't care.
If your dog is having trouble adjusting give him some alone time, take him for a walk, while the new puppy explores the home, with someone else there supervising, of course. Let them out at different times, crate your new puppy to give your dog some much needed rest.
A crate will also provide a safe haven if your puppy feels the older dog is getting to rough, so it can work to everyone's advantage.
Feed the separately or at least a good distance apart at first or at different times if that's what it takes. The last thing you want to bring on is food aggression and you don't want to change your older dog's meal times, so work around that with the puppy.
Overall it again depends on the cat, the dog, and the new puppy/dog you are bringing into your household.
Some cats will accept dogs of any kind, not caring, some won't, same with other dogs. You just have to assess all of these situations out before getting a new addition to your pet household and make sure you are making the right choice.
Your existing pet should always come first, so if you don't think the breed you are looking at will get along well, then you may want to look at another breed to get.
As you want all of your pets, new and old, well being to be taken into account, making the transition as smooth as possible for all involved.
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