Gracie making friends

Gracie the Pitt mix on the right has been a foster dog at Tender Touch for over two years.  She found herself in a fight with another dog over a bone.  Unfortunately for Gracie, she caused quite a bit of damage to the other dog.

Annie and Gracie learning to trust.

Here you see Gracie has learned to make friends with my Annabelle after about 20 minutes of introductions.  We have fed them treats together and Gracie is non confrontational.

Below you will see Gracie out for a walk with several other dogs.  She showed great communication skills even trying to get a few of the boys in the group to play!  The key to helping Gracie have success in the presence of new dogs is a very slow greeting.  She needs time to trust the other dog before she allows them in her space.

Gracie learning to trust new dogs.

Many dogs will snarl or snap when they first meet a new dog.  This does not mean that they will never be friends, however it does mean that the dog that is snappy does not feel safe.  Helping  this dog feel safe by taking a long walk with the new dog will help.  Should you punish your dog for being aggressive to a new dog?  No, your punishment will only make your dog more stressed.  Building a positive association between the two dogs is the best approach.

Keep in mind that being near a new dog outside is much easier than being with the same dog inside a home.  So, take it slow by bring the dogs together, then apart and repeat until you see both dogs relax.  This may actually take a few days before they feel comfortable in a home together.