dog Lashing out or shutting down
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Let them work it out themselves”, when introducing your dog to another? Maybe friends come over with their dog, and you just let the dogs “sort it out”.
When dogs meet – whether at home or outside – there’s a lot of subtle dog communication happening beneath the surface.
That’s why some dogs might:
- Lash out without warning
- Shut down and try to remove themselves from the situation, or even hide behind their owner (often labeled as shy or nervous)
respect and protect your dog’s subtle communication
As responsible dog owners, if we don’t understand the subtle signals dogs use to communicate, we risk creating situations that are uncomfortable – or even distressing – for them.
You might relate: imagine being around strangers, or even certain family members, where you feel you have to shrink yourself or act a certain way just to “fit in.”
Dogs need personal space
You feel the pressure on your personal boundaries. That’s how your dog might feel if you’re unaware of the natural, nuanced ways dogs interact.
Living with a dog teaches us a lot about boundaries. And as your dog’s advocate, it’s your job to recognize when to step up and protect them – even from situations that might seem harmless.
Just because two dogs are in the same room doesn’t mean they get along. That’s why understanding your dog’s cues is essential to guiding interactions and communicating effectively with other dog owners.
Protect your dog
I like to use the analogy of walking down the street: you don’t stop to chat with every person you pass. We all have preferences, and so do our dogs.
“Protect” might sound like a strong word, but here it means safeguarding your dog’s personal space. Be open to noticing when your dog is more or less comfortable around another dog.
Once you understand your dog’s natural communication and how they perceive meeting other dogs or packs, you’ll feel more confident navigating spontaneous encounters or hosting friends and family with pets.
And in doing so, you begin to heal parts of yourself too – ensuring that all dog-meeting situations feel safe for both you and your dog.
The first step to creating safe dog meetings
The first step to creating safe dog meetings is to establish space between the dogs.
The second tip is to use a leash to prevent the dogs from entering each other’s personal space.
Third, once the dogs have been near each other for a while, it becomes easier to assess whether they are ready to meet off-leash.
Off-leash, most dogs feel more comfortable because they can use their natural body language. However, a stressed dog may still feel uneasy around other dogs and might try to hide behind its owner.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to read your dog’s communication, personality and signals, I’d be happy to guide you.
