The Introduction
As a trainer I am often asked, ” What is the best way to introduce dogs?” First, I usually point out that not all dogs will get along. I think most people are in disbelief when I say that! But in my opinion and in my experience, this is true. When you want to introduce dogs to one another, there are a few things to consider about dog personality. Most importantly, know your dog and do your best to know the other dog before actually getting them together. Most dogs who have been properly socialized will be fine meeting one another but on occasion there are dogs who take offense to other dogs and then it is our job to intervene. If the dog your dog is going to meet has not had very many encounters with other dogs, you might want to shy on the side of caution. If both your dog and the other dog have not had many encounters or have been the ones to start a fight then shy extra cautiously and avoid these meetings. It’s better to have the most positive association as possible between your dog and another so picking dogs who already get along well with others is your best case scenario. Another thing to consider would be having the dogs meet on neutral ground and on leash. It’s always a good idea to take the dogs for a walk first, keeping smelling one another to a minimum. Then allow both dogs to smell one another with human guidance on leash. Remember to relax and not put tension on the leash. If you have tension on the leash then your dog will feel that and think they should fear or be anxious for some reason and this can make the encounter stressed. If there is no negative interaction by either dog, then you can go ahead and have both dogs off leash. It’s a good idea to have the dogs in a fenced in location still being on neutral ground and owners closely interacting with both dogs. After the dogs have played together and are getting along fine on neutral ground, then these dogs usually can coexist and play at the owner’s house, while still being supervised.
Dogs getting use to being around one another on leash during a group obedience class with Dog-Gone Capable.
Dog Scenarios
If you have one dog who tends to be leash reactive towards other dogs but is fine when off leash, you can take the two dogs to a neutral fenced in area, letting the reactive dog off leash and the non-reactive dog on leash at first. This allows the reactive dog to come up and sniff and then be free to wander away a bit and kind of ease into getting to know each other. Plus, the non-reactive dog is under the control of the owner, which gives the reactive dog more confidence that someone is in control, leadership is established. Once you see the reactive dog come and go to say hi to the non-reactive dog without any aggression whatsoever, then again under both owner supervision, you can let both dogs off leash.
If you have one dog who has not been around a lot of other dogs in their upbringing and a bit under socialized then make sure you are introducing them to a more submissive, well socialized dog. It is also common that these under socialized dogs be on the more dominant side and territorial or fearful so I always recommend that the first meeting be on neutral ground where neither dog has spent a lot of time. I also recommend that the more dominant dog be allowed off leash first, under strict owner supervision making sure there is no bullying posturing or aggressive behavior. If you see such behavior leash up the more aggressive dog and seek the continued help of a certified professional trainer. When you have one dog on leash, it’s always better to keep that dog moving by walking the dog in the fenced in area, stopping only when the off leash dog wants to take a sniff. If the under socialized dog does not take any interest in the better socialized dog then I recommend not allowing both dogs off leash just yet. It may take a few similar meetings before the under socialized dog is confident enough to want to play. You will know this if that dog starts to come up to the dog who is on leash and shows interest by sniffing the butt or demonstrating a play bow or a “come chase me” stance. Still, even if not much interest is there and you know that your well socialized dog is good at taking cues from other dogs and doesn’t overdo the playing, then you probably will be fine with letting both dogs off leash.
The last case scenario I would like to go over is if you need to have dogs meet for the first time at one of the dogs home. This is if you know that both dogs have been typically good meeting other dogs in the past. I still always recommend that you take both dogs on a walk around the neighborhood first. Also, keep the new dog on leash for a while until you see the dog of the house really loosen up and take that interest that we talked about in the above scenario. If the new dog is going to be staying for a few days or permanently, make sure that when you can’t be supervising that a crate is used for that dog. Never leave the two new dogs out alone when you are not there. It is also a good idea to have the new dog sleep in the crate at night for a while too. If you typically have your dog of the house sleep with you or in the same room as you, bring the crate with the new dog into the room as well. That way the routine of the existing dog is not messed with while getting use to a new dog being there as well but under control. Once the dogs have shown that they are fine with one another, you can loosen up the supervision a bit and allow both dogs off leash and to sleep with you as you wish. If you have any problems with dogs jawing at or lunging at one another at any time, it doesn’t mean that the two can’t learn to get along. It just means more supervision and controlled interaction is needed, along with strong leadership. If the dogs know you are in control and the head of this new pack development then things will work within a little more time. If you are constantly having issues with this new interaction and really need the dogs to get along then it is advised to call in a professional trainer for help. Remember not all dogs get along but a majority can learn to get along and coexist in the same house peacefully with just a little intervention on our part!
So while most dogs can get along or learn to get along, it is really important to understand that it doesn’t always happen that way. It is never good to force two dogs to get along on our timeline and it is never good to just let the dogs work it out if a problem is occurring. Always get the help you need or spend more time interacting, supervising and leading your dogs in the right direction with their interactions.
