It's the million dollar question, How can I introduce my dog to one dog or a pack of dogs. Whether you start out having one dog as part of your family and add other furry family members the introduction is key.
I am often asked how I can have a pack of 7 greyhounds and 1 miniature schnauzer in my home and not have a dog fight. The answer is simple my pack knows who the "Pack Leader" is. When you have a pack of dogs, you must establish rules, limitations and boundaries or your pack will take over from the human. Dogs are smart and if they see a human that is not leading their pack they will.
I often hear I introduced my dog to another dog and it was a fight from the beginning . I do not understand why because my dog is very friendly. The friendliness of your dog is not what is key on how successful a first time dog introduction will be. Think of it this way, you as a human are in a social situation and a totally stranger just comes up to you and invades your personal space. What would you say you felt that very moment?
I would say you feel this human did not respect your personal space. So yes think about how your dog feels when you just let another dog enter his/her personal space head on face to face.
Here are a few tips to help you along with introducing your dog to a new pack member. These tips can vary depending if you are introducing a new member to the pack or if you are just meeting a new dog for the first time.
- All dogs should meet on neutral territory.
- Take a leisurely walk with the dogs together first
- Be mindful when returning to your home who enters the home first
- Allowing a new dog/pack member to enter the home first is an invasion of territory
For more Helpful Tips on Introducing your dog to new dog or Socializing your dog click on the links below.
Disclaimer: “This content is strictly the opinion of the author and owner is not claiming to be an expert in this topic”. Consult your Veterinary Professional for all medical advice and treatment/training.