If you want to know the "secrets" to introducing two dogs together for the first time, without the risk or danger of hostility or aggression, then this informative guide is going to help you out.
Specifically, we're going to talk about safety - and how to introduce dogs in a controlled manner.
The first thing to keep in mind is that it's better to be safe than sorry.
So use caution.
If you are meeting a strange dog for the first time, your dog may be wary too.
This is natural, because you don't yet know whether the other dog is a threat, whether it is well trained, or even if the owner has a clue about controlling their own dog.
So be careful not to assume anything! I can be hard to know whether the other dog will be aggressive, so keep this in mind at first.
Now with that warning out of the way, remember that it's still beneficial to socialize your dog.
If your dog is friendly, and the other dog is friendly, you may not have any problems at all.
They will simply assess each other in their own canine manner to assess status and friendliness.
But to be safe, you should introduce two dogs in a controlled situation.
Especially if you are bringing a new dog into the home.
Keep both dogs on the leash to begin with.
They should both be kept safely in the heel position, and move closer together - all being well, there should be no problems.
If there is any aggression, remember you still have your dog on a leash, so they dogs can be separated easily without getting too involved with breaking them up, which can lead to injury of you or the dog.