How to Change Your Dog's Dislike of Other Dogs

Dogs can accept other dogs if they are given proper socialization.

Dogs may dislike other dogs for a variety of reasons. The most common cause, according to Bonnie Beaver in her book "Dog Behavior," is insufficient socialization. Dogs that haven't spent ample time with other dogs don't know proper canine social skills and frequently react with fear, aggression and inappropriate body language. Although it is much more challenging to socialize adult dogs than puppies, with patience and careful planning, you can teach your dog to accept other dogs.

Things You'll Need

• Leash
• Dog treats
• Training clicker

Instructions

1. Keep your dog away from unfamiliar dogs until it has learned to like other dogs. If your dog reacts inappropriately to a dog it does not know, the result could be a serious fight. Your dog's safety should be your first priority.

2. Determine your dog's flight distance. Flight distance is a measure of how close a dog will allow another dog to get before it reacts with fear or aggression. Take your dog for a walk at a location where other dogs will be. Carefully observe your dog and note how close it can get to another dog before becoming upset.

3. Expose your dog to dogs who are one foot farther away than its flight distance. For example, if your dog becomes upset when a dog is 10 feet away, do not allow any dogs to get closer than 11 or 12 feet away. Then click the training clicker and give your dog a treat. This preliminary exercise teaches your dog to associate other dogs with good things, but does not stress your dog because the dogs are still relatively far away. Repeat this exercise as many times as you can every time you take your dog for a walk, go to the vet or are in any location where other dogs are. This portion of training usually takes at least a month.

4. Decrease the distance at which you allow other dogs to approach by one foot each week, continuing to click the training clicker and giving your dog a treat. If your dog reacts poorly or becomes aggressive, increase the distance by two feet for another week.

5. Enlist the assistance of a friend with a dog when you have decreased the flight distance down to 5 feet. Choose a friend who has a calm, even-tempered dog and begin working one on one with the dog, giving your dog a treat every time it sees the other dog. Continue decreasing the distance between your dog by one foot every week until your dog's flight distance is one foot.

6. Allow your dog to sniff the other dog through a gate or barrier, giving each dog a treat. Continue repeating this exercise several times a day for at least one week. Once your dog has sniffed the dog daily for a week without reacting, take the dogs for a walk together. Dogs bond with other dogs primarily via traveling together and play.

7. Begin exposing your dog to other unfamiliar dogs in close proximity. Ensure that each experience is positive or you might instill fear in your dog.

References

• Canine Behavior; Bonnie V.G. Beaver
• The Culture Clash; Jean Donaldson
• The Other End of the Leash; Patricia McConnell