If you plan on bringing a new puppy or adult dog home and already have a dog at home this is a good read for you! Dogs have their special way of getting to know one another. We as humans must take the necessary steps to help the introduction go smoothly.
Dogs are social creatures and they learn a lot of valuable information by interacting with other dogs. You may observe that they use their noses to learn about one another. Sniffing is a huge part of the investigation process. Often dog introductions are a wonderful match from the start. Other times, time and patience come into play.
The human needs to observe the interaction to make sure things are going well. Pay close attention to body language. The dog’s body should not be tense. Their ears shouldn’t be pinned back. The dogs should look relaxed and curious. If either dog looks anxious or afraid this could be a red flag.
It is common for the greeting to be short. One dog may simply walk away and go about his business after the introduction. Another scenario that may play out is that the dogs may not greet one another at all in the beginning. They may simply not be interested in interacting at the moment.
Some tips for helping the dog introduction go smoothly include the following:
- Ideally, have the meet and greet take place in an open neutral space so the dogs have room to flee if necessary.
- You may want to have both dogs on a leash to start.
- Keep meet-and-greet sessions short.
- Be cautious with resources such as food and toys until a relationship is established.
- If possible, know the temperament of both dogs.
- Make sure your new puppy/dog has a safe place when you’re not able to observe the dogs interacting. A playpen, spare room, or crate works well.
- Praise positive interactive behaviors.
- Redirect negative interactions and separate for a while.
- Have a trainer lined up just in case any issues arise.
- Join an online dog training program like Baxter & Bella for more tips for success. (https://www.baxterandbella.com/)
My biggest tip for success is to be patient. The getting to know one another process often takes time. Your dogs may become best friends overnight or it may take time for them to acclimate to one another. Either way, be there to patiently facilitate the process and step in when necessary. Hopefully, a lifelong canine friendship will be right around the corner.
