How to Socialize Two Male Dogs

Care always should be taken when introducing two dogs.

Dogs are pack animals by nature and they establish a dominance hierarchy early, with one dog becoming the pack leader. This tendency remains in domesticated dogs. While a dog will accept you as a pack leader if you exert authority, it will compete with another dog to establish dominance. Socializing two males requires you to understand and respect this process and that hierarchy, once it has been established..

Instructions

1. Take the dogs for a walk. Have a helper so you can handle one dog while the other is controlled by the other person. Keep the dogs far enough apart to prevent them from attacking each other, as dogs can be more aggressive when on leashes.

2. If the dogs appear to be calm, allow them to sniff each other. Look at their ears and tails. If the tails are up and the ears are forward, the dogs should be more relaxed and more apt to be social. If its tail is tucked and its ears are back, a dog is stressed and should not be placed in contact with another dog. Keep the dogs on leashes to separate them if necessary. This also will prevent mounting, an act of dominance that can lead to fights.

3. If they will stay in the same space, bring the dogs into the house. One dog may snap at the other in warning -- it is trying to establish dominance -- and this should be accepted, as long as they do not fight.

4. Notice which dog appears dominant. When handing out treats, give that one a treat before the other and generally give it attention before the more submissive dog. Both dogs will accept the hierarchy and this will help them to be more peaceful.

Tips & Warnings

• Get your dog used to other animals when it six to eight weeks old, if possible. This is a vital development time for a puppy and it will help the dog socialize more effectively as it gets older.

• Neuter your dog as a puppy. It will be less aggressive and other males will perceive it as less threatening, reducing the chance of a fight.

• Never get in the middle of two fighting dogs, as they could attack you in the heat of the moment. If you are faced with a dog fight, make a loud noise to startle and distract the animals. You and a helper can then try to separate them safely after the initial aggression has stopped. Spraying them with water is another option.

References

• Paw Rescue: Fights Between Dogs - How to Avoid and Stop Them
• Leerburg: Introducing a New Dog into a Home with Other Dogs
• Paw Rescue: Dog Tip- Socializing Adult Dogs and the Importance of Maintaining Socialization