Why Doesn't My Dog Like Other Dogs?

Just as you don̵7;t like every human you come in contact with, dogs don̵7;t necessarily like every other dog they meet. While well-socialized and trained dogs usually can be encouraged to behave in the company of other animals, some dogs may just not get along because of temperament or behavior. For best results, don̵7;t ̶0;push̶1; your dog to interact regularly with another dog he shows an ongoing dislike for.

  1. Poor Socialization

    • If your dog is rarely around other animals, his apparent ̶0;dislike̶1; for other dogs may be a lack of familiarity or experience. Dogs do best when they̵7;re introduced to different animals, people and experiences from a young age. When this doesn̵7;t happen, your dog doesn̵7;t know what to expect from other animals and may exhibit signs of fear, aggression or being standoffish.

    Territorial Behavior

    • If your dog is protective of his house, yard, bed, toys, food or even of you, he could show aggression toward other dogs he sees as interloping into his space. Your dog sees the other dog as a threat and may try to protect his ̶0;possessions̶1; from harm.

    Size

    • Dogs of significantly larger or smaller size than your pooch can be intimidating. For example, if you have a big dog, he may appear to not like a small yappy dog; if you have a tiny toy breed, he may be intimidated by a dog of larger stature. Age also can play a role -- for example, mature dogs don̵7;t always have much tolerance for younger puppies̵7; exuberance.

    Smell

    • Dogs get accustomed to one another by smell; different odors may turn one dog away from another. For example, a sick dog or a dog on medication may have unfamiliar scents that your dog notes as ̶0;different̶1; and shies away from.

    Temperament

    • If you have a dog who is overly aggressive or overly timid by nature, he may show a general dislike of other dogs. Your vet may be able to recommend ways to go about socializing your pup so he is better able to interact with others.

    Previous Experience

    • If your dog had a bad experience with another dog in the past, it can make him appear to dislike all dogs. A dog who came from a puppy mill or a shelter or who was removed from his mother too young may show anti-social behavior toward other dogs.