When you're introducing two dogs to each other, first impressions matter.
How the dogs interact in their first few encounters can set the tone for their entire relationship,
so follow these steps to set their relationship up for success :
1- Make sure both dogs are on a leash
Even if you have a dog who generally does better off-lead than on-lead, without a leash on your dog you'll have no way to pull them apart should either one decide to attack. So do yourself and everyone else a favor...leashes, please.
2- Take the dogs on a walk together-single file
Your temptation will be to let the dogs meet and sniff each other first.
Don't do that! The reason that it's often a bad idea is that as two dogs approach each other the emotional intensity runs very high. You and the other person should decide which direction you're going to walk in, and one of you should start in that direction, with the other person following.
3- Praise your dog, no matter what they do
Your goal is to help your dog (and the other dog) RELAX in this situation.
The only way you are going to do that is by being a supportive, calming voice/presence for your dog.
4- Slowly let them sniff each other as they are walking
Since you are following, it will most likely be your dog that makes the first sniff - in the rear of the other dog. Hey, that's what dogs do! Remember that utilization of the olfactory sense is an indicator that your dog is transitioning into hunting mode, so it's a good sign. The dog being sniffed will be reacting as well, so both owners need to be vigilant about what's going on. After the trailing dog sniffs the forward dog it's generally a good idea to trade positions, so that the dog who just got sniffed has a chance to do the sniffing. Keep taking turns with each dog having repeated opportunities to be in the lead throughout the walk (at least 30 minutes)
5- After that, move so that you're walking next to each other (you can be between your dog and the other dog). it will give the dogs a chance to experience more direct contact between the two of them while keeping them aligned with a common purpose - the walk
That's it!
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