Introducing Two Dogs: A Step-By-Step Guide
Just like their human counterparts, dogs need introductions too! Although it looks a little different than a human’s usual handshake or head nod, dog greetings go beyond just sniffing rear ends. Pups are naturally social animals who love to socialize and first impressions are quite important. To get started, make sure to follow this list of do’s and don’t of Fido friendships.
Outdoor Introductions
Start with a neutral territory for both pets, such as a park or field, so there is no starting home-field advantage. Make sure to bring along some toys or collect some good sticks so the furry friends have an activity to do together. Start with having both dogs on their own leashes, in order to have full control of the interaction. You will want to slowly introduce your pets by walking toward each other from afar to see how the dogs naturally react to each other. Reward Fido if they respond positively and friendly; if they get too excited, whine, or bark, do not punish your pet, just redirect them and try again. This can usually take multiple attempts, but if they respond well to each other then you can continue to remove the leash and let them integrate on their own terms.
Indoor Introductions
Although outdoor introductions are highly recommended for having two pets meet, indoor interactions can still be beneficial. Try to have the pets meet first outside the home, whether that’s in the yard or the driveway, providing that extra space makes for a more relaxed environment for the dogs. For home preparation, remove your pet’s possessive items, such as their bed or toys, to avoid any altercations or power struggles. In order to maintain authority over the interaction, keep Fido on his leash at first until the two pets are comfortable with each other. Supervise interactions and give breaks from each other by giving separate walks or different crate schedules if needed.
Positive Interactions
No one knows your pet better than you do, so you will be the first to tell if the interaction is going well or not. Signs of a positive pet exchange will prevail in relaxed bodies, moving tails, and most importantly, relaxed ears. Dogs show a lot of their emotions with their ears; if the ears are pulled back, the dog is uncomfortable or scared. Pets are going to sniff, males go for under the tail while females go for the head, then will most likely separate from each other. Dr. Camille Ward, Ph.D., studied dog interactions at a park and reported to The Wildest that nearly 88% of dogs split after the first interaction. Only 12% of pets go straight from first impression to playing together right away. These interactions on average tend to last about six to eight seconds, that’s all they really need! Our furry friends are able to answer those twenty introduction questions in under ten seconds.
Negative Interactions
Altercations will occur, it is inevitable with any interaction. Signs of tension will show through your pet’s physical stance, between their facial expressions to tail behavior. Main troubles will occur from dogs who are unaware of canine social norms; whether it’s a leaping Labradoodle, growling German Shepard, or nibbling Newfoundland, these behaviors are even recognized by other dogs as misbehaving. Overbearing tendencies like these are most likely to scare another pooch and cause strain on interactions. Another stressor for pets is their owner’s behavior. Dogs feed off of the energy not only from the other dog but also from both the owners, so make sure to be cool, calm, and collected to diffuse bad situations. Try to alleviate stressors by using uplifting tones and moving away from the other dog to disengage.
Remember, every interaction is different! Mild aggression and barking are normal reactions for pets, even if it takes days or weeks for them to integrate. For more information, check out this article on Introducing Your Dog to Other Dogs!