We're having someone staying at our house over Christmas to care for our animals. The house sitter will be bringing her dog. If I remember correctly, her dog is a chihauhua. We have one dog, a shih-tzu mix, who has never really been around other dogs. He's a fairly mellow dog and sleeps in a kennel. (Our other animals are fish and a hamster) What is the best way for these two dogs to meet? We were going to have them meet on neutral ground in a park, then again in the same park the following week and then later the second week have the other dog come to our home. What else should we be concerned about other than the obvious of the dogs not getting along? Thanks for your thoughts.
Cesar will say to let them meet in a neutral territory. After a few minutes, you should know their mood.
After that, all should be well if you continue to exercise, no talk, no look, no touch....
Watch Cesar Millan on Nat Geo....he IS the dog whisperer.
Be the pack leader...ALL dogs SHOULD follow you....
When they are first walking up to each other try not to have them walk head on into each other, but either approach from the side or have the one that may be more nervous around other dogs walk behind the other one and then parallel. Also as long as neither is protective or aggressive around food, use food rewards and lots of praise as they are getting closer together. Try to let your dog sniff from the side or behind before a head on meeting and try to keep the leash so there is not tension on it. If they have any issues, turn them away from each other and walk away a little without saying or doing anything else and then back around. You may not need a lot of these suggestions.
It sounds like they will probably be fine together and will have a lot of fun while you are gone. A play bow (butt up, front legs on the ground) is a sign of play. If they go on alert- ears cocked up, standing on tip toe, hackles up, you may need to be a little careful and just go slow. It is great that you are taking time to meet several times before the big day and on neutral ground first. Other areas that may be an issue are feeding and the kennel if one dog doesn't want the other in their kennel. If that is the case just shut the door when it is not in use and feed them apart from each other. Since your dog is mellow he will probably be fine and if she does other pet sitting her dog is probably used to others.
Hope the two become great friends and have a wonderful trip!
You are doing it right, at a park in a neutral location. You probably don't need to do it twice though, but if it isn't a hassle to you then go for it.
Have little dog treats to give them as rewards when they meet the first few times so that they have that positive trained memory of enjoying the time.
My relatives always bring their dogs when they visit, and mine is mellow, but can get territorial as well if it's a new animal she hasn't met before. So just pay attention to your dog's routines, if she gets territorial with your children at all, those are cues on how she may react to this other dog. For instance, at night she likes to lay by our feet while we visit, so if another dog challenges that, she won't like it.
She will share her bowl of food/water with some dogs, but not others. Just be on the watch out for feeding times. We put my dog's bowls on one side of the kitchen and the other dogs bowls on the other side, and feed them at the same time so they are both busy eating.
Chances are though, they are going to be great buddies and will get along pretty well.
Meeting on neutral ground is an excellent idea. We started petsittig my brother's dog a lot this fall, so we introduced our dog to his at the park. We kept both of them on a leash, but gave them lots of liberty with each other. We let them smell and even growl a bit. This is necessary for one of them to gain dominance. Once you have an Alpha the relationship will be much less stressful. Once they have accepted each other, take them back to your house together and let them spend time together there as well.
Good luck!
Meeting at a park is good but even after that your dog could become territorial when the newer dog is brought to your home.
I bring home rescue dogs all the time. I have three here already and two are very Alpha female.
After the first meeting at the park bring them home and have each on a leash to pull them away form each other if they get to fighting.
Put the new dog in a room, crate or somewhere so the older one can have her space for a while. Bring them out together only when you can be there to watch them.
Each dog will need her own space to go to. Separate rooms, crates or whatever.
Feed them in a separate room since this is only temporary. Mine have been trained to eat on command and only from their own bowl, you and the sitter don't have that much time.
Put your dog away before the new dog gets into the house and bring her out after the new one gets a smell of the area. Then bring yours out with a leash on.
THey will smell butts and that is ok. If either goes down on her front paws and raises her rear higher than her head that is a sign of subordination. Raising the ears and posturing to be taller than the other dog is a sign of dominance.
A bowl of water thrown on top of them will usually stop a fight.
Good luck, If your dog is usually pretty mellow you should do fine. Be the Alpha and be calm. They take cues from you.
The park is a good first meeting. Your dog might be more "territorial" at the home meeting tho. Make sure they are both on leashes. It will most likely be fine after the initial "this is my house" thing is clear to the visiting doggie.
