Some dogs are very social and want canine friends, but don’t feel comfortable or have the skills to meet friends in a polite manner. Other dogs either aren’t very social and aren’t interested, or may have concerning behaviours that make it safer to avoid up-close interactions with other dogs.
If you have a social dog, when we work on their reactivity or dog issues, we often get to a point where we’d like to help them make doggy friends. This is one of my favourite things to do!
Prefer an audio option? Wonder how this works with horses? Check out the newest Something To Trot About episode!
Step 1 – Watching dogs in the distance
The first step towards helping your reactive dog make friends is to help them learn how to be calm and responsive with dogs in the distance. There are many training games we can play to help them including, but certainly not limited to using cookie scatters, playing counter-conditioning games, teaching a settle or relax, and practicing tricks and obedience.
Step 2 – Parallel Walking
The next step is to practice parallel walking. We can start quite a ways back and either follow behind a dog or walk ahead of them, whichever is easier for your dog. As their understanding grows, we close the gap until we can walk parallel or within a couple of yards of each other.
Step 3 – Quick Bum Sniffs
Once we can walk near each other calmly, it's time to sniff some bums!!
I like to have one dog slightly ahead, and while keeping forward momentum, walk across the path of the dog in the rear. We are presenting an OPPORTUNITY to sniff.
If you dog is comfortable and interested, they will sniff. If they are uncomfortable or uninterested, you will either see them ignore the opportunity or become stressed. If they become stress, go back to just parallel walking for a while.
Picture a hand shake between two people. Think about the duration of a polite handshake. Ever meet someone who holds on too long? It's super uncomfortable.
We don't want your dog to be that weirdo ;) Initial sniffs should only last 2-3 seconds before the dogs break away. Your dog will likely need your help with this part!
Watch for a "Fool Around Response"
Just like it would be weird for us to invite someone you just met over for a slumber party, your dog should not immediately offer a BIG play response. Dogs often do this when they are interested but insecure. If you see a big play bow or zoomies, move your dog away, help them calm down, then try again in a few minutes. Once they get to know each other, an invitation to play is appropriate.
Step 4 – Co-sniffing
When sniffing bums is no big deal, you can watch for one dog to sniff a tree, grass, etc. and allow the reactive dog the OPPORTUNITY to sniff along side if they'd like. Just saunter over that way keeping your leash loose.
This naturally progresses into more body sniffing, peeing on things together, etc. Now we have a friend!!
Not all dogs play or wrestle with others and that is ok. Going for walks, sniffing and exploring with each other is a great way for dogs to be friends. Play might naturally grow from this, or not, but your dog now has a friend! And that's something to celebrate!
When to use food? And when not to?
I use a lot of food to help dogs learn to be calm, relaxed, and responsive to us when around other dogs. However, food can increase arousal, encourage guarding, and change a dog's focus. For those reasons, when greeting anther dog is an option, I tend not to use food. If we have done the foundation training, we can use functional reinforcers for behaviours we like... in this case, they get to go sniff a bum instead of getting a cookie =)
Muzzles
When in doubt, or if your dog has a bite history, you can do all of this, particularly the up close stuff, with your dog in a muzzle. Better safe than risk hurting or scaring another dog.
How can we use dog parks?
Don't have a friend to help? All of this can be done outside of a dog park if you live near one that has a chain link fence and room to train. You will often see me near our local parks training with clients. The dogs in the park are generally friendly and have lots to think about so they don't fixate on our dog.
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FREE WEBINAR!
In case you missed the announcement and are wondering what this is all about, I am so excited to offer this FREE Webinar on Leash Reactivity. So many of you struggle to walk your dogs and I find myself sharing the same information over and over again with each new student. We will address the commonly missed key parts of fixing leash reactivity and getting you back enjoying walks.
It makes us so much more confident when we know how to help our dogs and how to give them the skills so they can enjoy their walks too!
P.S. Right after the webinar, I'll be opening the doors to LEASH REACTIVITY DEEP-DIVE, my group mentorship program in which I spend 8 weeks with a small group of people struggling with leash reactivity.
Because this is a custom experience and I get to know each of you and your dogs intimately, space is limited! We will sell out. Be sure to read all the details ahead of time so you're ready with any questions you might have!
I hope to see you soon!
Christina
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