On the journey back from ASH with KiKi, we go over the things we have read about how best to introduce her to our house, and how to manage her integration with Leica. We chose not to subject Leica to the eight or nine hour round trip by car when we collected KiKi. Instead, we’ve had a sitter look after her, only leaving her alone a short while before we are due home.

We had planned that on our return we would reintroduce the two dogs a short distance away from the house to avoid any immediate issues with ideas of territory. Flash & Leica had always been a little reserved if other dogs came into the house. Mostly this had been with male dogs owned by friends and family, we seemed to be the only ones who had chosen females, and it never amounted to much of a problem. At worst, Leica would sit behind me in my armchair and grumble quietly with Flash taking to her bed, or more often, heading upstairs until any visitors had been settled.

While Martha went indoors to collect a rather sleepy Leica, I waited in the park with KiKi. We needn’t have worried. The introduction went off without incident, Leica hurrying towards me with Martha in tow to be greeted by an excited KiKi. Once indoors, we leave KiKi to roam and explore her new environment. While a little puzzled by the stairs, she seems to approve. In the past both our dogs ate together without incident so we decide to see how KiKi and Leica adapt to their new companion under a potentially tricky set of circumstances while we keep close watch. Both dogs are clearly pretty hungry this far into the evening but KiKi finishes her food and calmly walks away leaving Leica to continue undisturbed. Only when she has finished and come back to the kitchen, does KiKi go to check for any leftovers. It is hard to overstate how significant this seems at the time. Territory and food are potential catalysts for trouble, but we appear to be fine thus far.

KiKi’s predilection for other food types will become clear very shortly. It will not be our most significant challenge.

In the meantime we have a bed made up beside Leica for KiKi which she takes to without hesitation. As Leica dozes, KiKi watches us closely over the edge of her bed. A few minutes later she stirs and climbs calmly and quietly in with Leica.