My husband and I recently went to a friend’s house for dinner and were greeted by their precious young daughter who happily approached us for hugs hello. It was most adorable and definitely well-received. After all, who could resist a charming little girl who quickly hugs, even if it was our first time meeting her? Not me. Chuckling about the warm greeting, our friend commented that her daughter has absolutely no “stranger danger.” Immediately, we all knew what she meant – it’s terrific that her daughter is affectionate, yet it’s not always appropriate nor always safe. Our friend is well aware that at a later time, her daughter will need to learn that handshakes, elbow or fist bumps, or a wave and smile are now our most acceptable “go to” options.

Owners of young, enthusiastic, and playful dogs struggle with this exact same issue of proper greetings.

You know the dogs I’m talking about, the 5–6-month-old adorable goofballs that love the world and just want to greet every dog with the enthusiasm of a squirrel on steroids. Again, this may be highly entertaining, yet we need to teach dogs to curtail their energy for more acceptable and appropriate first greetings. If they don’t learn at a young age, physical and emotional damage could result, or unwanted fights ensue. Most owners understand the need for their dogs to learn manners, yet they struggle with the most effective way to teach them. Furthermore, many people believe that socializing with other dogs is the best way to learn manners. After all, dogs can teach other dogs much faster and better than humans, right? Well, yes and no…

If young, enthusiastic dogs are intermingled with too many older dogs, or even one grumpy dog, bullying and over-correcting can occur. The result is young dogs that are now fearful of other dogs. Furthermore, if young dogs are permitted to always “figure it out” on their own, unfair play, roughhousing, or unnecessary vocalizing is practiced. Sound familiar to the consequences of leaving young children unsupervised at a playground or a park? I think so.

Young dogs require similar supervision as young children because both are always learning.

Here’s some tips on teaching dogs that balance of a wave and smile, and a handshake or fist bump when first meeting other dogs:

  • A wave and a smile = a soft wag, a wiggle, and 4 paws on the floor.
  • A handshake or fist bump = a quick sniff and circular greetings of both dogs.
  • Start SMALL – ideally, introductions should only occur with one other dog at a time.
  • It’s best to introduce dogs to each other outside, in a fenced open area.
  • The young dog should be on a loose leash, where the owner is not holding it tight.
  • The use of food to reward calm behavior makes the greeting that much more enjoyable.
  • Ideally, introductions to older dogs should only occur with dogs that you know are calm and predictable.

The above tips represent only a partial list of components for proper dog to dog introductions. If you are unsure of how your dog reacts around other dogs, please avoid dog parks and consult a professional for guidance.