Is he/she good with other dogs? That’s a question I hear
very often, being that I volunteer at a local shelter. Does it really matter if
the dog you are looking to adopt gets along with other dogs? Isn’t it more
important to know whether or not he/she will get along with YOUR dog(s). Just
because a dog is good with other dogs doesn't automatically mean that dog will
be good with your dog.
As you probably know by now, I have a Lab mix and a
Husky/Shepherd mix and they are both good with other dogs, but there are some
dogs that either Roxy or Duncan, or both, don’t like. Roxy is pretty easy going
but Duncan can be a bit picky at times and doesn’t like certain things. He
doesn’t like dogs that are high energy or dogs that will jump on him. Duncan
has had issues with males in the house, but will play, at times, with male dogs
outside the house. If we end up adopting
another dog or foster a dog, as we do, I would never think of trying a high
energy, playful male dog with my little man.
I’ve been at shelters where 2 dogs were picked up together
or turned in together. They live together in the same kennel and they get along
very well. You would assume, as many would, that they are good with other dogs.
In one instance I took out one of the two dogs kenneled together to meet
another dog. Of course it’ll work out just great because she’s great with dogs,
she’s lived with one and there’s never been an issue with them together in
their kennel. WRONG! She’s not great with dogs, she doesn’t particularly like
other dogs that she’s met. She likes the one dog that she’s lived with and
grown up to know. If that family had adopted her without doing a “meet and
greet” they would have had a serious problem which may have resulted in one of
both dogs getting injured.
In order to answer the more important question…Will the dog
you are looking to adopt get along with YOUR dog(s)…the best thing to do is
bring your dog to the shelter to do a proper meet and greet. A proper meet and
greet will usually consist of a walk together in order to see any reactions or
potential issues. If the walk goes well, then the dogs will typically be
brought together in a play yard with an experienced staff member (or volunteer
in some cases). The dogs are allowed to get to know each other, sniff each
other and play together for a while. If all goes well then that dog will most
likely get along with your dog. If you have another dog (s), I would never
suggest or advocate adopting a dog unless a proper meet and greet has been done
with your dog(s) and with your entire family.
A proper meet and greet at a shelter will greatly improve
the chances of the dogs getting along, once you bring your adopted dog home,
but it is not a 100% guarantee. You still have some work to do to make the dogs
feel comfortable. Remember, you are bringing someone in your dog’s space and
you need to reassure your dog that it’s going to be OK. First, don’t just bring
your adopted dog in to your house. Take your dog outside and let them meet
again. Let them sniff each other and get to know each other again for a little
bit. You can take them in the back yard and let them explore it together and
play, if they want. If you have a garden hose, make sure you have it hooked up
and turned on. If things get out of hand with either dog, spray them with the
hose. Spraying them in the face from a distance will not hurt them but it will
get their attention. You can also use a spray bottle filled with water or, if you
don’t have either, then 2 metal bowls or pennies in a can may be used to defuse a
fight. In most cases, they will hear the noise you make and will focus on that,
rather than each other.
Now it’s time to bring your new dog in the house and let
him/her explore but BEFORE doing that, make sure you have picked up any toys,
treats and food bowls. You don’t want them fighting over any of these. After
all, you’re dog thinks that is his/her stuff and may not like another dog
trying to take it. Also, when bringing your new dog into the house...put the
other dog away (in a room, kennel, leave in your fenced in yard) and allow the
new dog to explore his new surroundings, on leash, with you close behind. Once
the new dog has sniffed everything, take your dogs out to potty and then allow
all dogs to come into the house together. If possible,
make sure you have a couple days where you or someone can be home with your
newly adopted dog. It’s a good idea to let your new dog drag a leash around
until you feel you can trust the dog. This time can vary from a few minutes to
a week or longer. It all depends on the dog and the home.
Watch them together and see how they interact, until you’re
comfortable that they will get along. It’s important to remember that you
should kennel your newly adopted dog when you’re gone and at night when you’re
sleeping. Leaving your dogs together without supervision is NOT a good idea.
Feed your dogs separately, either in separate rooms or one in his/her kennel.
This will avoid the possibility of a fight over food. Your dogs should have
100% supervision when toys, bones or treats are involved, especially at first.
It’s important to mention that it may take a few weeks for
the new dog to feel completely comfortable in their new home so issues may not
be present right away. When issues do arise...and they will (they do have to
figure out pack order in all situations!) it’s how you handle them that will
determine the future success of the relationship. At the first sign of trouble,
consult a professional. It may be something simple that could be changed or
altered easily. Remaining calm and in control in all situations is key.
Following these steps will help to ensure a successful adoption and a safe and loving home for you and your family members.
Special thanks to Ashley Tucker Rogers of Roger That K9 Training, LLC for lending her expertise to this post.
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