How to Successfully Socialize and Introduce Dogs
There is a common misconception that in order for dog’s to “meet” or socialize, they need to meet nose to nose, have physical interaction right away or even play. That simply is just not true. It is more natural for dogs to be neutral around other dogs. Neutral can mean the body language of the dogs is loose and relaxed and the dogs may seem like they are actually ignoring each other or it can be a very brief greeting with appropriate rear end sniffs. This may seem odd to us as humans because when we meet people and socialize, we are face to face. Although it may seem obvious, it’s important to remember that dogs are not humans and putting human expectations on them is unfair. So what is an appropriate way to introduce your dog to another dog?
I always recommend an on leash walk first. It gets the dogs moving together and gives them plenty of time to air scent each other from a distance (remember dogs can smell an object from 12 miles away).
To set everyone up for success, you’ll want to have one person per dog and have the more nervous or less confident dog walking in the back, behind the dog in front. Less confident dogs can feel intimidated when there is a dog walking behind them and they’ll tend to insecurely look back over their shoulder. By putting the more nervous dog in the back, we’re helping them to feel more comfortable.
Start from a far distance where both dogs are 100% comfortable then slowly move closer in. If the dogs start to get too excited or seem uncomfortable in any way, go back to their comfortable distance and remember to be patient and go at your dog’s pace. For some dog’s a far distance is plenty of socialization, whereas for more confident dogs, you'll be able to fully close the gap and have both dogs walking side by side at the end of the walk.
It’s also important to remember, that if your dog is very nervous, fearful or even reactive to other dogs, it’s always best to consult a trainer to help with proper socialization. Not all dogs need or want to be interacting with other dogs and that is OK. It’s our responsibility to learn, understand and honor who our dogs are.
