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There’s nothing like heading off to the dog park to let your pet meet some new buddies. But not all dogs are a fan of making friends with their own kind. Some dogs may be reactive or hide when faced with another dog, avoiding them at all costs. This kind of antisocial behavior is especially problematic when adding a new dog to your household.
If your dog seems to hate other dogs, don’t lose hope on them bonding with another pet. Follow these tips to train your dog to make new friends and feel more comfortable around other animals.
When to Socialize Your Dog to Other Dogs
Without proper socialization as a puppy, your dog won’t know how to interact with other dogs. This lack of socialization can lead to fearful, anxious, or aggressive behavior later in life. According to Chandra Vail, dog trainer and AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator in Las Vegas, Nevada, puppies should ideally be socialized from birth by their breeder.
During their first couple of months, puppies learn how to interact with other dogs by playing with their siblings and learning from their mom. “Once owners obtain a puppy, they should continue to socialize them around other dogs starting at 8 to 10 weeks of age,” she says. But, she cautions that up-close and personal socialization with other dogs shouldn’t take place until a puppy is fully vaccinated.
How to Socialize an Older Dog to Other Dogs
For those with older dogs who didn’t have proper socialization as a puppy, the process could take a bit longer. “Socialization for an older dog should go slow and steady, based on the severity of their fear of other dogs.” One of the ways to do this is to participate in basic dog obedience classes. “Basic obedience classes build up their confidence level and having them around other dogs in a class while focused on learning helps acclimate them to other canines in a positive environment.”
Why Reward-Based Training Yields Positive Results
No matter what your dog’s age or background, positive reinforcement of calm, non-aggressive behavior around other dogs is the key to helping them overcome any fear or dislike of other dogs. While edible treat rewards provide a good form of positive reinforcement, Vail doesn’t always recommend using them exclusively. “Use behavioral markers like the phrase ‘Good,’ along with lots of love and play as rewards during socialization,” she says. “In addition, dogs who are fearful around other dogs may not want to take a treat, but a toy is a good reward for them.”
Where to Socialize Your Dog to Other Dogs
While dog parks can be a good option for dogs who are friendly around other dogs, Vail doesn’t recommend them for all dogs. “I’m not a fan of dog parks because I’ve seen too many accidents. You don’t know the status of the other dogs in there, their behavior, or their health history,” she says. Instead, she recommends arranging puppy playdates in your yard or enclosed outdoor spaces, such as a tennis court, with dogs who you know won’t behave aggressively.
Another option she endorses are doggy daycare facilities. “All dogs who are in these facilities are usually required to have all of their vaccinations and there are several people around to monitor the dog’s behavior,” she says. “Dog are also typically grouped by size, energy, and personality, ensuring a good experience for your dog.”
How to Introduce a New Dog to Your Household
It’s one thing to get your dog acclimated to the occasional visit from another dog. But it’s quite another if the goal is for them to live comfortably with a new dog in their household. Vail advises making initial introductions outside of your house. “The home is the current pup’s territory and an outside location like a park or a friend’s yard provides a neutral location,” she advises. “An initial introduction can last up to an hour and you’ll want to take your time.”
Once you’ve brought the dogs home, she says that they shouldn’t go unsupervised together until you know that they’re compatible. She also recommends putting away the older dog’s toys or bones for a few days or weeks, so that there’s a clean playing field in the home. This way, they won’t engage in resource guarding and fight over ownership of these items.
How to Ensure that Dog Roommates Get Along
Once your dogs are together in the home, regularly reward them with praise, play, and treats for good behavior around each other. “Monitor your dogs around each other and remember that when a dog is first in your home, they are getting used to you and getting used to your dog. It takes at least three months for them to acclimate and get situated,” she says.
Teaching dogs to get along takes time and patience. Plus, younger dogs may have more energy than older ones and this can cause discord. You may need to exercise your younger dog more often to calm them down. With time, your dogs should fall into a routine, says Vail.
How AKC Activities Help with Dog Socialization
Participating in an AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class, the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program, and activities like agility, tracking, and AKC Scent Work can be great ways for your dog to learn new skills and socialize with other dogs.
“The CGC program is what I consider level two of obedience where a dog has to have the basic obedience skill set already. It helps build their skill set a bit more and exposes them to different settings and environments, increasing their confidence level,” says Vail.
She has even seen very antisocial and fearful dogs enter her CGC classes and end up with therapy dog certifications down the line.
When to Seek Further Help for Antisocial Dogs
If your dog is showing severe aggression around other dogs within your home or during walks, it’s time to seek the help of a professional trainer or animal behaviorist, says Vail. “Every case is different and behavior modification can take weeks, months, or years. Sometimes it’s good to seek a professional trainer to get a new set of eyes on the situation.”