How to Introduce Dogs: 6 Tips for Introducing Dogs

Dogs can be our best friends, but they are still territorial pack animals, and meeting another unfamiliar dog can be challenging. The best way to accomplish a good initial meeting is to be deliberate about it and plan. Below is a step-by-step guide to introducing your canine pet to a new dog:

1. 1. Decide on neutral ground in advance. Find a good place to introduce your dog to the new dog. Ideally, the first meeting will be in territory unfamiliar to both dogs, with plenty of space. An outdoor park or a fenced-in backyard is a good choice.
2. 2. Meet with two handlers. Each dog should have a handler, ideally a family member, who knows how to interact with the dog. A familiar human presence will help these social animals feel comfortable and provide security if things go poorly.
3. 3. Give each dog space. Initially, have both dogs remain on the periphery of the enclosed area. They can be on leashes, but let the leashes be relaxed, and pay attention to the dogs’ body language. They should exhibit some degree of interest in each other but not become overly aroused or agitated, which are ominous signs when dogs meet for the first time.
4. 4. Let the dogs approach each other. Let them get closer if the dogs exhibit positive first impressions from their body posture and behavior. Keeping them on a tight leash can increase arousal and cause more problems than it solves, so let the leash go slack.
5. 5. Follow the dogs’ lead. When the dogs are approximately ten feet apart, let your dog and the new dog have a closer, face-to-face encounter. This will allow them to explore each other’s scent and even begin playing while you’re close at hand to intervene if necessary. Keep an eye out for behavior like play bows, which occur when a dog puts their paws down flat and tails and hindquarters high in the air—this position represents comfort and sociability.

If you’re introducing your dog to a second dog with the end goal of having the dogs into your home, additional sessions, walks together, and an in-home introduction will eventually be necessary.

Dogs are emotionally complicated creatures, and dog behavior in new situations can surprise even seasoned dog owners. When introducing your canine companion to a new dog, keep in mind the following tips:

1. 1. Consider the compatibility of the canines. Some dogs are naturally more friendly than others, but it takes two amenable dogs to make a successful encounter. If one dog is bigger than the other or an older dog meets a much younger one, this can cause unintentional injuries from the mismatch in ages or sizes. A bigger, older adult dog may not want to tolerate the excess energy of a small puppy.
2. 2. Keep the meeting free of toys and familiar objects. Avoid bringing any things a dog might feel protective over. Dog toys, sticks, or food bowls should be left at home, as they can create possessive, aggressive dog behavior.
3. 3. Exercise your dog ahead of time. Before arriving at the meeting, it’s good to give your dog some exercise. You don’t want them to meet a new dog if they’re bursting with energy and feeling restless, as this will increase the chance of things becoming volatile.
4. 4. Have a backup plan. In case of an encounter that goes poorly, it’s good to have a game plan and the necessary tools to avert the worst outcomes. Bring an air horn to disrupt the tangle or a blanket to toss over your dog to prevent an injury if a fight ensues.
5. 5. Consider consulting an expert. When introducing two dogs, it’s a good idea to have at least one person for each dog to act as a handler. Given the unpredictability of these encounters, it can also help to have an expert in dog training present, either as an additional resource or as one of the handlers.
6. 6. Introduce the dogs in stages. If you’re introducing two new dogs with the goal of them eventually cohabitating, it’s good to go in phases. Even if they got along in their initial encounter, things could be different when back on one dog’s home turf. Initially, have them in other rooms separated by a barrier. Baby gates are suitable for this, allowing the dogs to get close but not to touch.

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