By Beth MacLeod, CPDT-KA, Baypath Behavior & Training Coordinator

• Although your dogs have met at the shelter, it is important to again introduce them in a way that is non-threatening to them both.
• Both dogs should be on leashes with each adult holding one dog– if you have more than one dog already at home, do this exercise one dog at a time.
• Allow the dogs to approach each other on their own terms – do not force a confrontation.
• Have a firm but loose grip on the leash (flexi-leashes are NOT recommended.)
• Watch the dogs’ body language – are their bodies loose and relaxed, tails down and wagging, ears relaxed?  If they look tense or stressed try taking them for a walk, allowing them time to warm up to each other.
• If you are in a fenced area and the dogs appear comfortable with one another, drop the leashes but leave them attached to the collars.
• When you go back in to the house, leave their leashes on.  The tighter confines of the house may result in a bit of bickering.
• When feeding your dogs together for the first time you may want to feed them in separate rooms or with a reasonable distance between them.  Supervise all initial feeding sessions!
• If the dogs begin to fight, do not reach in to pull them apart!  Have a distraction ready (a hose, bucket of water, or an umbrellas you can open) so that you can separate them without harm to them or yourself.

For more information, see this great article from the Humane Society of the United States.