Do • Use a happy, calm voice. • Keep the leash as loose as possible while still maintaining control. Don't • Punish the dog for getting too excited, barking, or whining at the new dog. The goal is to encourage your dog and build a positive relationship with the new dog. Start with walking outdoors 1. Start on neutral territory where you have plenty of space, like a park, open field, or quiet street. Start on opposite sides of your space walking the same direction. When one dog looks at the other one, they get a treat. Keep walking until they are no longer focused on each other. 2. Repeat your walk and reward method moving about 3-5 feet closer. As long as the dogs continue to pay more attention to you and less attention to the other dog, continue walking. If the dogs become too focused on each other, add more distance until they can successfully walk, take treats, and ignore each other. 3. Slowly decrease the distance (this might take a few walks) until the two humans can walk next to each other with the dogs to the far right and left of them and can move forward without obsessing over the other dog. 4. Once you’re consistently walking well, allow the dogs to circle and sniff each other for a few seconds then lead them away. Repeat this several times. Any time the dogs’ bodies go still, lead them away and take a break.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTkzMzk=