First impressions are every bit as important for animals as they are for people, so you’ll need to know how to introduce your new puppy to those he’ll be spending time with.

Creating a happy, harmonious home is one of the best things about having a pet - or pets. Which is why introducing a new dog to the family and any resident animals is such an important step.

To successfully bring in a puppy largely depends on establishing a safe, controlled environment. Always remember to reward your new dog - and reassure and reward any resident pets - with plenty of praise.

Your children are naturally going to be excited about the arrival of a new puppy, but advise them to make friends slowly. In the first few days, they should keep their distance and avoid scaring or frightening the puppy with sudden noises or movements.

Children should not pat an adopted dog on the head: if not trained properly, this can be seen as an aggressive gesture and the dog might bite.

To begin with, it's a good idea to confine an adult dog to a single room, gradually letting the new arrival settle in by exploring your home room by room.

Introducing a puppy to an older, well-established resident dog slowly, perhaps allowing the older dog to investigate the puppy while the puppy is asleep. The older dog will normally accept the pup after a while.

Make sure you continue to give the older dog plenty of attention and never appear to favour one over the other. You don't want to hurt anybody's feelings!

If you're introducing an adopted dog, don't presume they'll immediately be friends. Let them get to know each other gradually. Closely watch both dogs and keep them both on leads when you allow them to first inspect each other. If they start to fight, separate them immediately and wait until they calm down.

Remember to always give resident dogs plenty of attention so they won't see the new dog as a threat. Dogs that haven't been desexed are more prone to fighting (bitches especially).

The road to social harmony with cats often takes a little longer. Felines will normally react to dogs by hissing or swatting with their paws, and will try to escape by running or hiding.

Rather than trying to prevent this instinctive behaviour, allow for it. For example, make the introduction in a room with shelves or high chairs so your cat can jump out of the way if she wants to. That way, you're catering for both the dog's and cat's needs.

Never leave the pets alone together unsupervised in those first few months. Cats need to gain confidence around new dogs and don't want to be chased around, so keep new dogs, particularly puppies, on a lead until they are friendly. Signal an emphatic 'No!' if the dog is at all unfriendly. Feeding your cat in the presence of the new dog will also help your cat to relax.

Don't be surprised or upset if your cat occasionally continues to hiss at - or even swat - the puppy. The fact that your cat is willing to stay in the same room is a positive sign. Adult cats sometimes see the new dog as a threat to their pole position and so may spray to mark territory. This is normal for a stressed cat.

To allow the cat to preserve the required sense of territory, don't let your new dog roam freely around the house. And make sure your cat has somewhere the dog can't access, with litter box, food and water to hand.

And don't worry if they never get along. Cats are independent by nature and can do without having a dog for a friend, thank you!

Kittens usually love dogs, and dogs find kittens unthreatening. Start the introductions under close supervision - ideally with both on a lead. Keep on doing this until each grows more comfortable with the other. If the new dog shows any sign of unfriendliness, say 'No!' in a firm tone.

Young animals that are raised together are unlikely to turn against other animals - and this holds for kittens and puppies. Again, as with older cats, never leave a new dog and a kitten alone until a pattern of good relations has been established. A bite from a dog can be fatal.