The Barking Lot is a regular weekly feature of This Just In…Originally written by both my lovely wife, Jennifer and me, this blog brings you the latest news about our furry friends including articles, columns, photos and videos. Enjoy!

THE WEEKEND DOG-WALKING FORECAST: We grade the weather outlook for taking your pet outdoors.

TODAY: DENSE FOG ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM THIS MORNING. Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog in portions of east central, south central and southeast Wisconsin. Cloudy. High of 74.  “B”

SUNDAY:  Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High of 81. “A-”

Time now for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headlines the past week.

Can Your Dog Get Cancer Just by Sniffing?

Dogs can help keep our neighborhoods safer and reduce crime: New study. More details on the OSO study.

Our sweet little dog needed a friend. No one warned us puppies can be psychopaths.

4,000 beagles will be rescued from a Virginia breeding facility.

What’s the best dog breed for your kids? Here are the top 20.

Dog poo forms a significant part of foxes’ diet,

‘A Lot of Introverts in One Room’: Awkward Dog Meet-Up Goes As Expected.

We dig into The Barking Lot vault for this blog written by my wife in June of 2010:

I often talk about getting a dog, especially when Kyla is a little bit older.  I figure that’s the best plan…  After all, Kevin doesn’t need to know that my intention is really to have dogS.  Yes, plural.  I had two dogs most of my youth, and it was a blast.  They had different personalities, looked different, and played differently with me.  So why wouldn’t I consider the same situation with our family?

Actually, there might be some reasons.  Or at least there are things to thoughtfully consider before you just spring two dogs on each other and assume they will be doggy BFF’s.

Again from our friends at PetPlace.com, there are certain steps you should follow when you want to introduce two dogs for the first time.  I think this information would be useful for introducing two “friends” or “extended family” dogs as well as if you would like to adopt a second one for your home.  Excerpts of their article include:

1. Keep it friendly – It may be possible to introduce the dogs in a relaxed manner by just letting them sniff and play, as long as both are known to be friendly with other dogs.

2. Take it slow – If you are not sure how the dogs will react, start off cautiously by taking them for a walk together on neutral territory (e.g. a park, not your yard).

3. Watch for signs – Be aware that wagging tails do not necessarily mean that dogs are happy to see each other.

4. The dominant dog will emerge – When the dogs eventually meet off-leash, one of them is going to need to establish dominance. This is a normal and necessary step in a dog-dog relationship, but sometimes the process can look and sound pretty scary.

5. Support the dominant dog – Once the dogs are together, make sure that you support one dog as dominant (this will probably be the resident dog). Show him that he is number one.

Additional tips from PetPlace.com are specific to helping you think through the process of adopting a second furry friend.  So besides all the great ideas listed above here are some more points to ponder:

If you have a dog and you’re thinking about getting another dog, choose wisely. There are many things to consider, like finding the right dog, keeping the peace and balancing the pet budget.

The better the match, the easier the transition will be. A natural hierarchy will develop over the first few weeks and usually the older incumbent dog will and should occupy the “alpha” position.

Is it better to get a dog of the same or opposite sex? Many veterinarians and behaviorist recommend choosing a dog of the opposite sex. This will decrease the chance of aggression. 

What breeds should you avoid? Avoid breeds that are known for their aggression toward other dogs (e.g. Pit Bull). Do your research first and choose the breed that has the best chance of getting along with your resident dog. 

Make sure their personalities match. If the incumbent dog has lots of playful energy, it would be appropriate to get a new puppy or young adult dog. However, if your present dog is unlikely to tolerate the antics and energy of an adolescent dog, consider getting an older dog.

Once you select your new dog, the “dog-to-dog” introduction is very important. Observe their behavior … see how they react to each other, and then decide how to continue.

Consider all of these factors when choosing a second dog – and don’t forget about the added expense for that dog’s care. In addition to food, toys and grooming think about the additional medical expenses. 

Uh, sorry, Kev.  If you think that all this information is going to dissuade my hopes of having eight paws and two tails in our home, you are out of your doggone mind.
—Jennifer Fischer

Now it’s 12 years later and…never mind.

That’s it for this week. Thanks for stopping by.

We’d really appreciate it if you forward this on to other dog lovers you know. Let them have some fun!

See ya, BARK, next Saturday!