Dog to dog introductions

To calm your dogs before they meet and ensure a successful introduction, here are few effective strategies backed by expert advice:

• Exercise first: Take your dogs for a walk or engage in light play before the meeting to burn off excess energy, which helps reduce over-excitement.
• Practice calming cues: Teach your dogs commands like “settle,” “go to your mat,” or “place” so they learn to relax on cue. Reward calm behavior with treats and praise during training sessions without distractions, then gradually add more stimuli.
• Controlled greetings: Use leashes initially and practice structured greetings where dogs sit calmly before approaching each other. For example, have them sit and get treats before allowing a brief, calm interaction, then separate and repeat.
• Create a calm environment: Set up a quiet, cozy space with their favorite bed or blanket where they can retreat if overwhelmed. Using calming aids like ADAPTIL chews, diffusers, or ThunderShirts can also help reduce anxiety.
• Stay calm yourself: Dogs pick up on your emotions, so maintain a relaxed and composed demeanor to set a positive example.
• Use positive reinforcement: Reward any calm and non-reactive behavior consistently to build positive associations with the meeting.
• Gradual exposure: Start with short, supervised interactions in neutral territory and slowly increase time together as they show comfort and calmness.

By combining these steps, you can help your dogs feel more relaxed and confident before and during their meetings, reducing the chance of stress or conflict.