If you have a dog, and have decided to adopt or get another dog, then listen up. There are some important guidelines to introduce dogs to each other safely. This doesn’t relate to puppies so much, but definitely when introducing adult dogs to each another.
* This page may contain curated affiliate links. As an Affiliate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting our blog.
Whether this new dog is a foster animal, new member of the family, or is just visiting for awhile, here are some important tips on how to safely introduce them to one other.
Prepping Your Dog for Introduction
Before the dogs meet each each other, have a plan in place. Make sure you have someone else to help you with this. It’s a two person job. And, since you know your dog best, consider what their reactions might be to seeing another dog. Are they reactive to other dogs, pushy, or timid?
Be aware of your dog’s behavior and how to mitigate it. Having high value treats on hand can be helpful for a food-motivated dog. Maybe your dog craves attention and that can be their reward for good behavior. These things will help deter unwanted behavior and get them to focus on the task at hand.
Also, make sure you have a sturdy, short leash, harness, and plenty of training treats (our favorite) before embarking on Step 1. This will allow you to keep control of your dog and reward them, as needed.
Find this First Before You Introduce the Dogs
Find neutral territory to introduce the dogs in, such as a quiet trail, private or empty park area, or loop around your neighborhood at a less active time of day. This negates most of the normal outdoor distractions, such as people, kids, bikes and other dogs, allowing the dogs to relax.
You’ll need this space, sidewalk, or trail to take the two dogs for a walk together. They’ll need to walk parallel to each other, side by side, but not so close that it creates stress or reactivity for either of them. But, they should be close enough to see and smell each other. Finding the most comfortable distance between them can be tricky, but finding that perfect distance distance will keep them relaxed. Getting them relaxed is the best way to promote a positive experience.
Be very aware of both dogs’ body language, which will tell you a lot about how they’re feeling in this situation. Is their tail relaxed, do they seem happy or nervous? What are their ears doing? Do you hear a low growl or see “whale eye”? You will know what is normal and not normal with your dog, but it may be more difficult to assess the other dog, since they’re new. So look at them in a more general way. Are they low growling or have their hackles up?
The hackles are a confusing signal. It can mean anything from anxiety and fear to curiosity, aggression, or even excitement in the moment. It can be very hard to read if you don’t know the dog, so pair what you see with their hackles to what’s going on in their eyes and the rest of their body to properly assess the situation (tail, ears, etc).
If they’re showing signs of discomfort, separate them a little bit at a time until you see signs of comfort starting to show. Consistently encourage any positive behavior you see on the walk with high-value treats and positive marker words, like “good”, “yes”, or any markers you already use with them.
After Both Dogs Pass the Walk Test
Once the walk is over, and has been successful, it’s time to move on to the next step. This is a supervised, unleashed meeting in your current dog’s backyard or an empty, fenced dog park. This allows them to get to know each other. When my dogs did well with the walk, then went into the backyard, they immediately jumped into a pretty intense playtime. This was great, because it was exactly what we were looking for!
Before entering the enclosed yard, make sure there are no bones, toys, or anything of high value in the yard that could cause resource-guarding or protective behavior.
Walk both dogs into the backyard on a leash, then remove the leashes when you feel like they’re comfortable. Again, keep an eye on their body language and behavior as they start to sniff each other. Hackles may go up initially, but may just be curiosity and suspicion. If they bare their teeth or start to growl, though, leash them up and separate them, and allow them to sniff each other from a safe distance. Try again, when you feel they are ready to do so.
After a Successful Unleashed Intro
The last and final step to introduce dogs to each other is getting them into the house together. Keep in mind that your current dog sees themselves as the protector of the home and the people inside the home. This is important because you’re, essentially, bringing a stranger into the home. Yes, they’ve met, but they’re no longer on neutral territory.
Before allowing the dogs to enter the home, be sure there are no bones, dog chews, toys, pet beds, or food bowls out that could be obsessed over or guarded. Also, limit the people in the room or have them stand at a distance while the new pup looks and sniffs around. Give them space. No direct eye contact.
As with in the yard, keep a close eye on behavior and only let them enter the house if they appear to be ready for it. If you sense hesitation, consider using a baby or puppy gate to separate them and let them sniff each other a little bit more in the house.
If the Dog Introduction isn’t Working
If either dog shows aggression, considering having the new dog checked by a vet to be sure there’s no underlying issues, or hire a dog professional to help you with the introduction.
Please let us know how it goes, or if you’ve found another method that worked well for your dog when you introduced them to another dog or pet. We love hearing personal stories in the comments!
