My Dog Has Problems Meeting Other Dogs

Dogs have the pack instinct. When a dog meets other dogs or is suddenly expected to share his home with another dog, this can bring the genetic rank drive or pack drive right to the surface. The dog can become aggressive and shock the daylights out of its owners. You had hoped your dog would meet and accept the other dog and be friends forever and it didn't happen. Instead, a fight broke out.

  1. House Dogs

    • House dogs are territorial and when a new dog is introduced into the home, dominance and rank problems surface. If one dog is female and the other male, this can cause aggression. You have to become the pack leader. If you don't, this can lead to dog dominance because the dogs lack the leadership that is required in the family pack. This doesn't mean you should hit your aggressive dog. Instead, you need to make a mental connection with the dog. When you train your dog and teach him to be obedient, you are teaching the dog that you are the leader of the pack, which the dog respects.

    What To Do

    • If you want to introduce your dog to another dog, do it away from home. Take your dog on a walk and have someone take the other dog on a walk with you. Walk parallel to each other so that the dogs aren't meeting head-to-head. Let them gradually get to know each other. Before taking both dogs home, take away any toys or objects that the dogs could fight over. Take them to your backyard if you have one and let them get familiar with each other in an area where there is enough room for both of them. Do not interfere unless they begin looking unhappy and it appears that a fight is about to break out. Distract them but do not introduce food or toys into the mix.

    Emulation

    • When a dog is really shy and nervous and has a hard time meeting other dogs, find a dog that is more secure and confident and introduce your dog to it. Let them hang out together. Dogs do emulate the behavior of other dogs, so your shy, timid canine may

      pick up some confidence building tips from the other dog. When a dog is exposed to regular dog get-togethers, it eventually becomes less nervous and retiring around other dogs.

    Early On Exposure

    • Start working with your puppy as soon as you get it. A dog will become aggressive around seven months, at which time he has gleaned enough self confidence to use aggression, including barking and growling. If you expose it to positive encounters prior to seven months, it should get along fairly well with other dogs and not be anxious or aggressive.

    Three Dogs Equal a Pack

    • If you put three dogs together, they will develop a rank order and that includes a leader. Every dog in the pack knows exactly what his rank is. When dogs do not have a human pack leader that is strong, one of the dogs always steps up and becomes the leader of the dog pack. If you bring home a new dog, every dog in the house then has to reinstate his personal rank in the new family pack. This is when dog fights break out.