How to Introduce Dogs to Each Other

Dogs are social animals with their own etiquette rules and community order. It is important to understand and respect these rules when you introduce two dogs who are unfamiliar with each other. Taking a few simple precautions should result in a successful initial meeting where both dogs become acquainted and develop a natural bond with one another.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Friend who is familiar with at least one of the dogs
• 2 leashes

1. Put the dogs in separate rooms from one another, or, if the introduction will happen outside, keep the dogs out of eyesight from one another. Leash one dog yourself and have a friend who is familiar with the other dog leash that one.

2. Ensure that both dogs are in a calm, submissive state prior to the introduction. A dog that is calm and submissive should be able to sit calmly next to its handler with a relaxed body posture. Many dogs become excited when a handler places a leash around its neck. Excitement, however, is not the appropriate state of mind for a dog when it is about to meet a new canine friend.

3. Bring the dogs within a couple of feet of one another while still on leash. Keep the leashes loose. A tightly pulled leash indicates anxiety on the handler's part, and this can transmit similar anxiety to the dogs. If either dog pulls at its leash making it feel tight, then it is not in a calm, submissive state appropriate for meeting a new dog.

4. Allow the leashed dogs to investigate and sniff one another as long as they both remain somewhat calm. If either dog seems overly excited or aggressive, remove the offending dog and bring it back to a calm, submissive state. Signs of aggression include bared teeth, raised hackles, growling, a stiff-legged gait or a prolonged stare.

5. Take both dogs on a 5 to 10 minute walk together. Walking creates a pack mentality between the dogs that allows them to bond with one another.

Tips & Warnings

• There is no rush--separate the dogs if they don't seem ready to meet one another. Try again in a few days.
• Do not leave the dogs unsupervised or even off leashes until they are very comfortable with each other.
• Be wary of dominant body postures--for example, one dog putting its chin, neck or foot over the other's shoulders. Separate the dogs if you see these signs of dominance. The human handlers are the only acceptable pack leaders allowed to exhibit dominant signals.

Resources

• Puppies