Editor’s note: Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? This article appeared in our June/July issue, and we’re thrilled to have Victoria Stilwell as a contributor. Subscribe to Dogster and get the bimonthly magazine delivered to your home. Read an interview with Stilwell on Dogster.
What a luxury it would be for some pet parents if their dogs politely greeted each other by shaking paws and exchanging stories of their favorite smells. In reality, however, dog-to-dog greetings are rarely that smooth. They tend to be excitable or cautious affairs where vocal and physical language is quickly read, risk is assessed, and confidence is tested.
Positive greeting behavior depends on many factors, including sociability, past experience, and desire for personal interaction. The best way to ensure that your dog is a confident greeter is to provide her with a good social foundation as well as positive greeting experiences with other well-mannered dogs.
Outdoor greetings
Dogs who lunge, whine, or bark when they pass other dogs on leash usually fall into one of two categories: anxious and uncomfortable, or frustrated and overexcited. This can pose a challenge while walking outdoors, particularly if you have to fight to keep your dog contained. The following tips will help bring calm to the chaos.
- Teach your dog an alternative behavior from lunging by giving her something else to focus on. Encourage her to think instead of react by teaching her the game “find it.” Here’s how you do it: Start in a low-distraction environment, and teach your dog that the verbal cue “find it” means she has to seek out high-value treats on the ground. Simply drop a few treats, and say, “Find it!” Begin the game when your dog spies another dog, and play until the other dog either walks past or your dog is ready to greet.
- If your dog is not motivated by food, try using a toy to play a game of tug or encourage her to hold the toy in her mouth. This security blanket might be just what she needs to cope with the start of the greeting process.
- If you choose to do an on-leash greeting, the leash should be loose, and your body language should be calm and relaxed. Any tension or nervousness you feel will be felt at the other end of the leash.
- Keep initial nose-to-nose greetings quick. Let the dogs touch noses and sniff bottoms for a moment, and then take them on a walk side by side, or have one dog follow the other for a time. This is often a good way for dogs to relax around each other without having to be in each other’s space.
- A good technique for keeping outdoor greetings conflict-free is teaching automatic eye contact. Teach your dog to look at the approaching dog and then look back at you for praise and reassurance.
- If you feel an approaching dog could be a potential danger to you or your dog, do not let your dog greet. Even when another pet parent assures you that “my dog is friendly,” always trust your instincts.
- Dogs who are nervous or overly excitable on leash might do better greeting other dogs off-leash in a safe, neutral environment.
Indoor greetings
If you want to bring another dog indoors, allow the initial greeting to take place on neutral ground outside first, if possible. If this is not an option, these techniques can minimize the chance of a negative reaction.
- Remove any objects your dog might guard when another dog comes into the home, such as toys or food bowls.
- Start by having both dogs on leash. If they do well with the initial introduction, you can drop the leashes — but keep them attached in case you need to safely separate.
- Watch for any sign of tension, such as body stiffness or rigid tails between the dogs. Praise calm, relaxed, and confident behavior.
Dog-to-cat greetings
If your dog is meeting a new cat for the first time, bring the cat in a carrier so your dog can smell him and the cat feels secure.
- Let the cat out into a confined area, keeping your dog on leash. Allow them to smell each other, and watch your dog’s body language for any signs of predatory behavior.
- Always give your cat a safe space where he can hide, away from your dog’s reach. Cat trees provide great high places to escape to.
- Never leave your dog and cat unsupervised unless you are absolutely sure there is no chance of your cat being injured.
- Teach your dog a reliable “leave it” cue to make dog/cat interactions safer.
If your dog shows any aggressive behavior at any point in the training, contact a qualified positive trainer to help.
Read more by Victoria Stilwell:
Read more Dogster articles that feature the methods of Victoria Stilwell:
- 4 Things I Love About the Positive Training Method for Dogs
- Modern vs. Traditional Dog Training: What’s the Difference?
About the author: Victoria Stilwell is a world-renowned dog trainer, TV personality, author, and public speaker best known as the star of the international hit TV series It’s Me or the Dog, through which she reaches audiences in more than 100 countries. Appearing frequently in the worldwide media, Stilwell is widely recognized as a leader in the field of animal behavior, and is the editor-in-chief of Positively.com and the CEO of Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training, the world’s premier global network of positive reinforcement dog trainers. Connect with her on Facebook and on Twitter.
