09/23/2026
How dogs meet matters...
MEETING METHODS MATTER
When two dogs meet, it’s not just about meeting each other.
Dogs are also experiencing the physical environment, unfamiliar scents and sounds, available space, resources, people, leash restriction, previous experiences, the other dog's body language as well as their current emotional state and level of arousal.
Where and how an introduction happens can influence the success of an initial meeting.
This is why meeting somewhere neutral that neither dog considers home is the recommended method. There are fewer established resources and fewer reasons for either dog to feel that their personal space is being invaded.
A successful introduction is about creating conditions where dogs can feel safe enough to decide what they think about each other.
Dogs don’t need to say hello to each other to have a successful encounter.
It’s not about trying to force an immediate friendship or acceptance.
Walking parallel, sniffing, looking at each other, looking away, exploring, moving further apart or gradually decreasing distance is all an important part of building a relationship and helping each dog feel safe.
Maybe they will become friends, maybe just comfortable companions or maybe just mostly ignore each other - all of these outcomes are still successful.
Successful introductions aren’t about forcing dogs be friends - it's about giving dogs enough choices to make their own decisions about how close they want to be.
For more detailed info on this subject, here is a link to an article by Claire Grobbelaar of Canine Concepts®
https://www.canineconcepts.co.za/articles/introducing-a-new-dog-to-a-resident-dog
and from Little Doggy Rescue - A Practical Guide to Dog Introductions
https://littledoggyrescue.co.za/introduce-a-new-dog-to-your-resident-dog
