A Guide to Proper Introductions
7 Steps That Allow Your Dog to Successfully Make New Friends
Proper introductions are the first step in advocating for your dog when they are meeting a new dog in public or you are bringing a new dog into your pack. Acclimating a new dog is essential to sustaining a cohesive pack, as it gives your pup time to get used to his or her new environment and family members. With the right approach, you can ensure that your furry friend's transition is as smooth and stress-free as possible. In this blog post, we will provide helpful tips on the do's and don'ts of acclimating a new dog in the home and to help set your pup up for success when meeting other dogs in public.
The steps of a successful meet & greet
Ensure you are in a controlled environment with limited distractions and both dogs on-leash
Do 2-3 passes with the dogs on the outside of the handlers
Do 2-3 passes with the dogs closest to each other on the inside of the handlers
Slowly bring each dog from behind to give them a sniff of the other dog's butt
Slowly allow the dogs to meet face-to-face, paying close attention to body language
If the body language of both dogs is relaxed with loose, wagging tails, you may allow them to play on-leash
After 2-5 meetings following these steps, if the dogs show consistently relaxed body language and demonstrate play that doesn't overwhelm either dog, you can allow the dogs to play off-leash
Introducing a new dog into the home
Whether you are fostering or adopting, it is always a good idea to allow the dogs to meet outside your home in a neutral area on leash to ensure it is a good fit. If the dog’s are fully vaccinated it is best to begin with going on a walk on separate sides of the sidewalk and gradually getting closer, eventually walking side by side and allowing each dog to go in for a butt sniff. This allows the dogs to see and smell each other from a distance before going butt to butt. If the dog’s are unvaccinated they must meet inside the home with both dogs on leash.
Why dog parks are not conducive to successful socialization
Parks are NOT a place for dogs to meet. Parks can be loud and full of people and other dogs that your dog has never seen before. In these environments, it is difficult to assess compatibility between dogs and if any negative interactions occur, it could damage your dog's trust in you and other dogs. Instead, opt for a quieter environment such as a backyard or a neighborhood street to introduce your new pup to their furry friends. This will provide them with a more relaxed atmosphere to get to know each other better and form a strong bond.
What is the proper way to introduce dogs on a walk?
If the dog is reactive they should not be doing greetings. Greetings should be calm and short. If you choose to do a greeting, you should assess that the other handler can manage their dog and keep their dog calm as well. Dogs SHOULD NOT go nose to nose if it is their first few interactions. Have the dogs pass a few times. If body language is loose allow the dogs to stop and sniff each others butts. For first interactions, do not do anything more. Dogs need to know that every interaction will be different and they do not get to always play when they greet another dog. When your dog sees another dog, we want their default setting to be “you cannot say hi”. This teaches the dogs, dog neutrality. This exercise allows you to better understand your dog’s threshold.
