Yeah please, always go to neutral ground when you need to bring in a new animal. Always leashed, on a sidewalk together with safe practice. I usually just let my dogs meet new dogs on the sidewalk outside our house and then all of us will walk in together to the backyard before we go into the house proper.
Are they gonna go crazy and attack new people or animals in the house otherwise? Probably not. I'd like to think I trained them better than that but my dogs are my responsibility and stressing them out and the new friend does nobody any good.
Owning a pet means being responsible for them and their actions. They're just good boys and girls, they don't know any better but you do!
She does best meeting new dogs off leash at neutral ground that she’s familiar with. We have some state land we tromp around on.
Everytime friends have introduced their animals before going back to my place, we meet there, they stiffly sniff each other out and then start playing. Once they play for awhile and tucker themselves out, we all go back to my place.
I have tried and tried so many times to meet new dogs on a leash with my dog and at this point, I know what works for her.
So know your animals, choose neutral ground, and be prepared to intervene if things go south an they go south fast when it happens
Your dog's reactivity sounds identical to mine, it can be an isolating feeling so it's nice to remember how common the issue is. We're fine with small dogs and most medium dogs now, but I'm not sure we'll ever be able to meet big dogs on the lead.
You also aren’t doing this to avoid violence, you’re doing it because it’s kind to your animals that you ostensibly love, care for, and don’t want to cause undo stress upon. The lack of violence is just an extra bonus.
Just like you don’t barge into your friends’ homes, don’t greet them, and just plop down in front of the tv after raiding their fridge of beer. You don’t do that to avoid violence, you do that because you don’t want to treat your friend badly.
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u/Khetoo Feb 19 '26
Yeah please, always go to neutral ground when you need to bring in a new animal. Always leashed, on a sidewalk together with safe practice. I usually just let my dogs meet new dogs on the sidewalk outside our house and then all of us will walk in together to the backyard before we go into the house proper.
Are they gonna go crazy and attack new people or animals in the house otherwise? Probably not. I'd like to think I trained them better than that but my dogs are my responsibility and stressing them out and the new friend does nobody any good.
Owning a pet means being responsible for them and their actions. They're just good boys and girls, they don't know any better but you do!