For Dog owners only: How to introduce your dog to another dog, and how not to.

[kittygilchrist]

Taking the dog anywhere in TV is likely to generate potential contact with other dogs. This thread is only for dog owners interested in better ideas for peaceful co-existence in public for dogs.

If you have a dog and think you have a resource or knowledge of how dogs should be introduced or not introduced, please post what your ideas are and as importantly, where you learned what you know.

Again, please stay on topic: How to and not to introduce dogs to each other.

[SheilaO]

I have a Shih-Tzu and he HATES other dogs unless he is at the groomer…I am in a condo so he has grown up on a leash… which may be his problem…he is protective and territorial, however at the groomer he plays with them all. For the past 8 years I have been trying to figure him out…if you have any suggestions, let me know. I even had a dog behaviorist who didn't seem to know what to do…He's so awful when on the leash that I'm afraid he's going to meet a dog that will not put up with his bad temper and will eat him right in front of me. I avoid other dogs at all costs. Otherwise, he is just great!!!

[CFrance]

The best way to introduce one dog to another is to walk them together. Keep them moving. They become a pack that way. This is in all sots of dog behavior books and on Cesar Milan's show. It's is not possible to do this with every dog on the square or in the market, however. But if you have socialized your dog early on, they will be okay around other dogs, or you will know if they just don't have that personality, in which case don't take them around other dogs.

Dogs must be socialized with other dogs from the time they have had all their shots, till they get used to being around other dogs. If it's a rescue, start out with just one other dog, then work your way up to a dog park or a doggie daycare center. I like and have used doggie daycare centers to socialize our dogs because the dogs in those centers have already been vetted against aggression, and they are neutered and have all their shots. You never know in a dog park.

Don't ask me for references. I just know this. I've been reading about dog behavior and watching videos for the last 20 years.

[CFrance]

I have a Shih-Tzu and he HATES other dogs unless he is at the groomer…I am in a condo so he has grown up on a leash… which may be his problem…he is protective and territorial, however at the groomer he plays with them all. For the past 8 years I have been trying to figure him out…if you have any suggestions, let me know. I even had a dog behaviorist who didn't seem to know what to do…He's so awful when on the leash that I'm afraid he's going to meet a dog that will not put up with his bad temper and will eat him right in front of me. I avoid other dogs at all costs. Otherwise, he is just great!!!

Is it because at the groomer he's not on a leash? I have read that leashed dogs can feel threatened around unleashed dogs. At the dog park we used in Bradenton, FL, they had a rule that you must take the leash off the second you're through the gate and not put it back on till you're in the fenced exit area.

[TV MAN]

Yes walking dogs side to outside of each other is a good one. One thing you dont want is for them to meet head on if possable this can sometimes trigger aggression. Some how they read each other's eyes and one wants to become dominate.
Watch for signs your dog may give off like the start of a growl. or a more playful emition such as tail wagging or a play stance were the front haunches are low to the groung whlie faceing the other dog.
It is not unusal for dogs to sniff each other's rear to get to know one another either.
We were at a dog pak once that had a great sign that explanned some of the sounds that the dogs may make when they first meet an as they play.

But remember it is you the responsable dog owner that must have control of your dog at ALL Times no exception to that rule. We have take our dog thru a number of training session with a local dog club we belonged to. Very informative and great training for both dog and owner.
Hope to find a simalr culb near the villages.

[mrfixit]

.
Used the same Vet for years.....He always emphasized...

...>>> "animals should first meet on NEUTRAL territory" <<<...

For Example.....
when someone will be coming to your place with a Dog...
...do not have them come directly to your place with their Dog(s).

Both parties should transport their animals to a Park or open field.
This way no animal has "territory" to protect and can become "friends".

Have found this method to be sucessful.

[redwitch]

I walk a dog that was extremely aggressive when she saw another dog even two blocks away. Fortunately, she knew the sit command, so I had her sit every time I spotted another dog (hard to be aggressive when in a sit or down position). Worked wonders. I can now walk her on the same street as another dog without her going berserk and without forcing her to sit. She even is okay with a dog in HER yard when she's outside now. Not sure she'll ever be okay with a strange dog next to her but this is such a huge improvement both her owner and I are extremely pleased.

[Taltarzac725]

I go to Doggie Doo Run Run almost every day- rain or shine or snow-- and there are still some dogs I feel uncomfortable with my pooch interacting with in any way. Sometimes dogs will gang up on him especially if these dogs are established playmates. So, I have often had to look for another part of the dog park to hang out in with Beau or go to the Squares or some other dog park in the Villages.

I would appreciate any suggestions about how to handle dogs and their owners when there seems to be a pecking order for their play. The owners also have quite a bit of sway here as some just have the attitude of letting dogs be dogs and they will work things out. Except that there have been the occasionally scrapes-- sometimes very serious in nature-- at Doggie Doo Run Run.

[echo11]

Remember you are your dog's best advocate! Not all dogs do well at dog parks.

I have a leash reactive dog. As a puppy he was attacked on leash a few times. Now when on leash he will bark aggressively (out of fear), if he doesn't know the other dog. Unfortunately, it is very reinforcing- he feels the barking makes the other dog go away.

We need to see a new dog a few times before we approach. We will cross to the other side of the road to gain distance from a dog we don't know. The way we have worked on this- first from a distance where he is not reactive, we give a command "see it" and he looks at the dog and then turns back to us and gets a treat. We repeat this sequence until the other dog has moved on. This helps our dog know that he will not be forced to greet a dog when he doesn't feel comfortable. We will repeat this a few different times or days of seeing the new dog. Then when he feels calm and seems ready, my walking partner will approach the new dog, maybe pet it and remain talking to the owner. At that point our dog will approach and is fine. From then on, whenever we see that dog, our dog will be calm and happy to greet his new friend!

"Controlled unleashed" by Leslie McDevitt is a fantastic very positive training book. It is worth reading. It teaches you have to listen and work with your dog!

Good luck with your dog. Remember, just like people, your dog is not necessarily going to like every dog it meets.

[kittygilchrist]

Thanks for all the great advice. Sometimes I think I over-isolate my dog and would like to develop one to one playmates.

By history she has never bitten anybody or another dog, but she has been bitten and so have I, when owners did not have command of their dog and made wrong moves.

I almost always trust new dogs more than I trust their handlers. I believe dogs know how to meet and greet and establish relationship and that only a few are naturally so nasty as to ignore doggy rules. Owners, however....

I'll try not to rant, but the last episode...at Brownwood, six foot guy with small immaculately groomed high bred little thing. He proudly held it and showed it off to everybody. I'm standing with Emma (boxer) on a short lead, keeping her out of the way of other dogs. When Rocky and the Rollers play, it's crowded.

He intentionally approaches and asks, "Is she friendly?"...I say, "Only if dogs and owners are well-behaved"...
OH OK, he says and quickly shoves his dog from his arms directly toward Emma's face.
Emma, who by history has displayed amazingly creative instinct to do the right thing, reared on her hind legs (without aggression) instantly raising herself to equalize height with the descending dog.

Both the man and I pulled our dogs back. Situation averted.

This is an example of how NOT TO introduce dogs. And next time I'll say "NO!" when asked if she's friendly. It's a white lie.

[Trayderjoe]

Several of the previous posters have hit the nail on the head. My dog Jenny was very social until she got bit by another dog. Unfortunately, she has also been "set upon" three other times by dogs whose owners did not have them on lead. When she sees other dogs walking by, she barks aggressively and raises her fur.

I spoke with a trainer who suggested walking her with a training bag and to keep my head on a swivel. When I spot another dog (hopefully before my dog sees it), I give Jenny a command of "look" with the intention that she look to me and when she does, I reward her with a treat. My first step was to get her to disengage from focusing on the other dog and to look to me on command. She did well enough that we walked by several dogs (who were across the street) and several homes with dogs barking and she did not react. Our next step was with the help of a member of a dog rescue at PetSmart. She had a large male dog and brought him outside to meet Jenny (this is the neutral territory), turning him so that Jenny could "sniff" him. We then turned Jenny so that the male could "sniff" her as well and she could be comfortable with the "inspection process". We were ultimately able to bring Jenny into PetSmart (I kept a muzzle on her just in case as I wanted to see her behavior) and kept her near her new BFF. She was a little nervous, but started to relax even with other dogs around, and even with all of the new scents she had to have been picking up. We now can bring her to PetSmart and she does well, but occasionally there is the warning growl if another dog is too hyper and gets in her face too fast. I keep my eyes on her at all times, but I can also tell you that she has laid down on the floor with her stomach exposed which she would never do if she was fearful or aggressive. We are also now able to bring her in without the muzzle on, although I always have it with me just in case. We take it slow when new dogs show up and if an owner does not have control of their dog, I turn Jenny away and we walk away. She had one dog snap at her and I was shocked that she did NOT react negatively. I had expected her to go back at the other dog, but we turned away quickly and then I rewarded her promptly with several treats. By the way, I continue to have the training bag on me and reward her good behavior promptly. It is not a quick process, but I would never have thought I could ever bring her to PetSmart. I also have to admit that I will always be alert when walking her since she is my responsibility. I don't know that I will ever get her to accept another dog in the house (she is also 14) but at least I can now bring her to a more social situation. Unfortunately I have also passed up adopting some nice rescue dogs to replace our friend whom we lost 2 years ago.

[CFrance]

Several of the previous posters have hit the nail on the head. My dog Jenny was very social until she got bit by another dog. Unfortunately, she has also been "set upon" three other times by dogs whose owners did not have them on lead. When she sees other dogs walking by, she barks aggressively and raises her fur.

I spoke with a trainer who suggested walking her with a training bag and to keep my head on a swivel. When I spot another dog (hopefully before my dog sees it), I give Jenny a command of "look" with the intention that she look to me and when she does, I reward her with a treat. My first step was to get her to disengage from focusing on the other dog and to look to me on command. She did well enough that we walked by several dogs (who were across the street) and several homes with dogs barking and she did not react. Our next step was with the help of a member of a dog rescue at PetSmart. She had a large male dog and brought him outside to meet Jenny (this is the neutral territory), turning him so that Jenny could "sniff" him. We then turned Jenny so that the male could "sniff" her as well and she could be comfortable with the "inspection process". We were ultimately able to bring Jenny into PetSmart (I kept a muzzle on her just in case as I wanted to see her behavior) and kept her near her new BFF. She was a little nervous, but started to relax even with other dogs around, and even with all of the new scents she had to have been picking up. We now can bring her to PetSmart and she does well, but occasionally there is the warning growl if another dog is too hyper and gets in her face too fast. I keep my eyes on her at all times, but I can also tell you that she has laid down on the floor with her stomach exposed which she would never do if she was fearful or aggressive. We are also now able to bring her in without the muzzle on, although I always have it with me just in case. We take it slow when new dogs show up and if an owner does not have control of their dog, I turn Jenny away and we walk away. She had one dog snap at her and I was shocked that she did NOT react negatively. I had expected her to go back at the other dog, but we turned away quickly and then I rewarded her promptly with several treats. By the way, I continue to have the training bag on me and reward her good behavior promptly. It is not a quick process, but I would never have thought I could ever bring her to PetSmart. I also have to admit that I will always be alert when walking her since she is my responsibility. I don't know that I will ever get her to accept another dog in the house (she is also 14) but at least I can now bring her to a more social situation. Unfortunately I have also passed up adopting some nice rescue dogs to replace our friend whom we lost 2 years ago.
That's a long, involved process, but very solid training practice. You are to be commended to spend the time to go through it with Jenny. I always forget about PetSmart and Petco as being possible places to get a dog used to other dogs, though like you say, one must be vigilant in anticipating other dogs' and owners' behaviors.

Now excuse me, my dog is pointing at his watch. The little paw is on the 4, and the big paw's already past the 12. Dinnertime!

[kittygilchrist]

That's a long, involved process, but very solid training practice. You are to be commended to spend the time to go through it with Jenny. I always forget about PetSmart and Petco as being possible places to get a dog used to other dogs, though like you say, one must be vigilant in anticipating other dogs' and owners' behaviors.

Now excuse me, my dog is pointing at his watch. The little paw is on the 4, and the big paw's already past the 12. Dinnertime!

adding kudos to Jenny for getting a trainer who knows their stuff and for your allegiance to helping a dog make inroads from post traumatic symptoms. Extraordinary story of dog and owner and training...

Oddly enough, Emma had instant play love for a rescue adoptable part boxer she met at Petsmart. A rare and memorable meeting.

[kittygilchrist]

I have a Shih-Tzu and he HATES other dogs unless he is at the groomer…I am in a condo so he has grown up on a leash… which may be his problem…he is protective and territorial, however at the groomer he plays with them all. For the past 8 years I have been trying to figure him out…if you have any suggestions, let me know. I even had a dog behaviorist who didn't seem to know what to do…He's so awful when on the leash that I'm afraid he's going to meet a dog that will not put up with his bad temper and will eat him right in front of me. I avoid other dogs at all costs. Otherwise, he is just great!!!

I have just a thought...for what it's worth, Cesar Milan is my hero for dog behavior. It's hard to know if your dog is aggressive or afraid without seeing his behavior. If he is ok when someone else is in charge, I'd make a guess that he takes cues from whomever seems to be in charge and when he feels insecure in the pack, in other words, when he thinks he is the one in charge, he postures as aggressive.
Just a guess that if he's ok at the groomer, he just feels insecure.

[Trayderjoe]

I have just a thought...for what it's worth, Cesar Milan is my hero for dog behavior. It's hard to know if your dog is aggressive or afraid without seeing his behavior. If he is ok when someone else is in charge, I'd make a guess that he takes cues from whomever seems to be in charge and when he feels insecure in the pack, in other words, when he thinks he is the one in charge, he postures as aggressive.
Just a guess that if he's ok at the groomer, he just feels insecure.

Kitty: Yes, our dogs do take their cues from us and I have no doubt that I only added to Jenny's issues (I avoided other dogs all together, didn't think about PetSmart) until I talked to the trainer and stepped back. Glad to hear that you have picked up on that as well!

[Trayderjoe]

That's a long, involved process, but very solid training practice. You are to be commended to spend the time to go through it with Jenny. I always forget about PetSmart and Petco as being possible places to get a dog used to other dogs, though like you say, one must be vigilant in anticipating other dogs' and owners' behaviors.

Now excuse me, my dog is pointing at his watch. The little paw is on the 4, and the big paw's already past the 12. Dinnertime!

adding kudos to Jenny for getting a trainer who knows their stuff and for your allegiance to helping a dog make inroads from post traumatic symptoms. Extraordinary story of dog and owner and training...

Oddly enough, Emma had instant play love for a rescue adoptable part boxer she met at Petsmart. A rare and memorable meeting.

Thank you for the kind words CFrance and Kitty. I wish that all dog owners were as kind and responsible as both of you!

[SheilaO]

Thanks Kitty…he's such a good dog is most aspects…I probably have found it easier to avoid dogs than stick with training…I did at one time have him sit and gave him a treat each time we saw a dog and that seemed to work…I just haven't been consistent…I do appreciate the comments…Fritzie never ceases to amaze me when I see him play with all sizes of dogs at the groomer…He's like the "Gremlin". Thanks again!

[CFrance]

Thanks Kitty…he's such a good dog is most aspects…I probably have found it easier to avoid dogs than stick with training…I did at one time have him sit and gave him a treat each time we saw a dog and that seemed to work…I just haven't been consistent…I do appreciate the comments…Fritzie never ceases to amaze me when I see him play with all sizes of dogs at the groomer…He's like the "Gremlin". Thanks again!
Although not fun for you, that is so interesting that you actually see him playing with the other dogs at the groomers. So it's not something you are doing, it must be some outside influence. Somehow he feels totally safe at the groomer's. There could be a whole host of things going on in his doggie mind when you're other places with him.

Has it always been the same groomer? Maybe she has that certain touch with dogs that not all of us have? Oh, Cesar... we have a problem here!

[kittygilchrist]

Although not fun for you, that is so interesting that you actually see him playing with the other dogs at the groomers. So it's not something you are doing, it must be some outside influence. Somehow he feels totally safe at the groomer's. There could be a whole host of things going on in his doggie mind when you're other places with him.

Has it always been the same groomer? Maybe she has that certain touch with dogs that not all of us have? Oh, Cesar... we have a problem here!

I wish every dog owner would watch Cesar's episodes, or get his online materials. I've watched hundreds, and can give Cliff notes--

Most of the time he is training owners to signal dominance to their dog, because when the dog is left in charge, the dog is insecure and acts out.
He corrects like this: When the dog acts out, he places the dog on its side, which is universal dog talk that means I am in charge, you are not. He waits for the animal to completely relax, then rewards with petting or treats. (obviously this takes repetition)

His show highlights very clearly that most dogs will alter their behavior drastically based on whether the human in the room demonstrates strong control of the dog, or does not know what to do.

Cesar sells T-shirts saying stuff like "Pack Leader" to drive home how important it is for the animal to see the owner that way.

[CFrance]

I wonder if he's still on Animal Planet? My vet taught me to do this with a puppy: several times a day, put him on his back and keep him there while talking to him calmly till he stops squirming. It's puppyspeak for I am the pack leader and you are the pack.

[mrfixit]

there are still some dogs I feel uncomfortable with my pooch interacting with in any way.
Sometimes dogs will gang up on him especially if these dogs are established playmates.

I would appreciate any suggestions about how to handle dogs ........

You just need to be the Alpha dog ............
or establish that your dog has an Alpha bodyguard...(that would be you)

When the other dog approaches.........
...Look the other dog in the eye (you have furrowed brow + squinting)
......Point your finger at that dog.(thumb up....index finger out)
.........Make a sound like CHIT...but as an air leaking hissing noise
..if you know what the air release on Air Brakes sounds like...you nailed it.

...If the other dog is NORMAL...that dog will bow its head and look away...
...however...
......if the other dog GROWLS......stand fast and repeat....

Then
........if the other dog "hackles" rise and bares its teeth and begins the low growl......YOU look away.

P.S.
Never ...repeat ...NEVER...try to pet any dog from above their head ....or.... behind their eye area....

...most dogs will open their mouth when looking upwards to see where your hand is going....this is a natural dog trait ...and triggers the fight or flee.

Your own dog probably won't open mouth when you put your hand above its head...