Meeting new dogs in public can be a very stressful event for many dogs and their owners, especially when the other dog doesn’t pick up on (or ignores) your dog’s social cues. Here are a few tips for navigating these types of encounters**:
Learn what to watch for with dog body language:
A dog uses their entire body to communicate, so it’s important to “read” the entire dog to look for “Go Away” or “Let’s Play” signals.
Most obvious “Go Away” signals: stiff/tense posture, especially if leaning forward; lowered head and/or neck; “Flagging” tail (where tail is raised up and over the dog’s back; may wag in a “tick tock” fashion); raised hackles; growling; tooth display
Most obvious “Let’s Play” signals: loose and/or curved body (dog's body often becomes "C-shaped"; most commonly seen during respectful greetings); play bow; “loose” wagging tail (hips and rear end usually wagging as well); loose and open mouth with relaxed eyes; hip nudge
Practice your manners:
Keep your own dog close until you can determine if both dogs want to greet each other (see above). DO NOT let your dog run up to other dogs, even if they’ve met before - you never know what may be going on with that dog on that day.
Ask the other owner if your dog can meet theirs and respect their wishes if they decline.
Watch the body language of both dogs and if either dog becomes uncomfortable while greeting, separate them.
What if your dog is not dog-friendly? Don’t worry! Most adult dogs are “selectively social”, meaning they may have a few dogs that they are friendly with, but do not necessarily want to play with (or greet) everyone.
Know what your dog is comfortable with, and be an advocate for them!
Don’t be afraid to use your voice with other owners to let them know your dog does not want to be approached.
Have an escape - sometimes people don't take the hint, so you may need to take your dog and leave the area.
**This blog provides information for introducing unfamiliar dogs in public settings (on a walk, at an event, etc.). While much of this information can be used for introducing a new family dog to your dogs at home, please contact us for more information specific to adding a new pup to your family.
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