Catalogs are starting to clog our mailboxes. Calendars are being filled with events. The holiday season is drawing near. Over the river and through the wood to grandmother’s house we go! Many dogs are tagging along on these holiday travels. This Thanksgiving, we are flying across the country with our dog. Don’t worry, she flies in the cabin with us under the passenger seat. A dog she adores will be waiting for her when we arrive. I’m also making a plan to introduce her to a new dog in the family. Whether you are traveling with your dogs or have a new dog coming to stay, I hope these dog-to-dog introduction tips help! 

Since our dog will be given prescription medication for the flight, we’ll wait twenty-four hours before making an introduction to the new dog. Check with your veterinarian and consider delaying a new dog introduction if medication for travel will be given. Even without medication, travel can be disorienting for dogs. You may want to settle in and save dog-to-dog introductions for the second day.  We want every dog to put her best paw forward! 

Our dog is dog-selective and lives with reactivity, so we generally do not introduce her to unknown dogs. When we do need to make an introduction, we follow an introduction protocol. Regardless if your dog loves other dogs or is dog-selective, we hope these dog-to-dog introduction tips make for a happy holiday hound hello! 

Start with taking the dogs for a walk away from the resident dog’s home. Walk the dogs across the street from each other. This is often called a parallel walk. You’re not looking for your dog to be interested in the new dog. On the contrary! You’re looking for your dog to be aware of the new dog, and still be able to walk with slack in her leash, sniff the ground, and pay attention to you. Ideally, the new dog will do the same. During this time, both parties should generously share fabulous treats with their own dog. 

If both dogs seem relaxed and are able to respond to cues, start closing the distance between dogs. Keep closing the distance as long as the dogs continue to stay relaxed and ignore each other. The time it takes to close distance varies based on the dogs’ behaviors. Eventually, guide your dog behind the new dog. Allow your dog to sniff the new dog’s butt for no more than three seconds before calling her back to you. Giving a wide berth, swap places with the new dog. The new dog now walks behind and sniffs your dog’s butt. As long as all dogs are relaxed and unfazed, go to a fenced-in yard and let them off leash together. Don’t have a fenced-in yard? Parallel walk near an empty dog park or even a tennis court. 

Keep in mind, the introduction doesn’t always end up with butt sniffs or off leash in a shared space. If at any time one or both of the dogs are too anxious, rambunctious, uncontrollable, or even too still, stop and go your separate ways. Make sure to have a contingency plan should the dogs not be able to share the same space. Crate or secure one dog in a bedroom, while the other dog has the space. Rotate between dogs. This is commonly referred to as crate and rotate. Alternatively, stay with your dog at the home of another family member, friend, or dog-friendly hotel. 

Traveling for the holidays can be stressful. The packing alone for yourselves and your dogs is enough to make anyone consider a staycation! Planning ahead can help mitigate stressors. Before you arrive, review your dog-to-dog introduction plan with the other dog’s family. Brush up on your dog body language observation skills. Should the dogs need separate space, share your contingency plan with everyone. 

This post is offering a broad introduction guide. Need more nuanced advice? Contact a force-free professional dog trainer. Our Behavior Anywhere service gives you a video visit with us. We do reserve the right to eat pumpkin pie as we chat! Please let us know how you and your dogs fared on your travels or with incoming furry friends.