Introduce on neutral territory.
If the dogs are not showing any negative behaviors, reward them with treats just for seeing each other. For example, when the dog you're walking looks at the other dog, you can say “Good boy!” in a happy, friendly voice and give him a treat. Repeat often.
It can take up to one month for an old dog and new dog to really settle in and accept each other's position in the pack. If you want a second dog, you need to be ready to commit to this process and not panic.
Dogs will typically react aggressively towards other dogs for two reasons, fear, or they believe the other dog represents a threat. Your dog may perceive a threat to their status or safety, or they may even be protecting you against an apparent threat.
Dogs are inherently social animals that live well together in groups, but that does not mean that all dogs get along. Most dogs will welcome a new sibling, but it is not always smooth sailing.
The amount of time each individual pet needs to adjust to their new homes will vary, but the 3-3-3 rule helps give an approximation of what new pet owners can expect. The 3-3-3 rule refers to the first 3 days, the first 3 weeks, and the first 3 months after bringing a shelter animal home.
If your dog misinterprets a friendly dog as an aggressive one, it may lash out from fear or protectiveness. An only dog is more likely to misinterpret social cues, especially if they're one dog that was never properly socialized. Having multiple dogs is great because it helps them learn about social cues.
Throw a blanket or jacket over each dog so they can no longer see each other. Or spray the dogs' faces with citronella spray, lemon juice spray, or a vinegar spray. Use an object to separate the dogs. Be certain to keep your hands and face as far from the dogs' mouths as possible.
They like to snuggle up close to one another and fall asleep
"If they are sleeping with each other and snuggled up together — really truly making contact with each other — then that's an obvious sign that there's true affection between the animals," Nelson explained.
How do you know when your dog has a BFF? Dogs with dog best friends prefer to stay in closer proximity with the other animal. They ignore the other dogs and tend to play more or spend more time in general with their dog best friend. They may be more willing to share their toys, bed, water bowl and general space.
Can dogs live together after fighting? The answer is, most of the time, YES. There are times when dogs may be like an incompatible couple and need to divorce, but in general, there are things you can do to help combative pups get along.
In dogdom, there's a turn of phrase called, "Second Dog Syndrome". This describes the process of adding another dog to the home quite well, but not necessarily in a positive light. As humans, we are bound to forget all of the time and effort it takes to raise a puppy right.
First, you may want to start with a simple deep breathing exercise called the 5-5-5 method. To do this, you breathe in for 5 seconds, hold your breath for 5 seconds, and then breathe out for 5 seconds. You can continue this process until your thoughts slow down or you notice some relief.
This technique asks you to find five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. Using this with someone who feels anxious will help to calm them down and reduce their feelings of anxiety.
This aggression may be excitement-related or related to frustration or fear. Finally, some dogs become frustrated and behave aggressively toward a housemate dog when they cannot access something, such as a person or animal viewed through the window. This is known as redirected aggression.
Dogs in the same household can become aggressive toward each other for a variety of different reasons. Aggression may be dominance-related, territorial, possessive, or caused by fear/anxiety. Some dogs have “alliance aggression”.
Before settling on a breed, think about the gender of the dog. For the happiest dogs and the safest household, opposite sex dogs almost always do best together. Many same-sex combinations of dogs will fight, sometimes to the death. Those who work out a dominance order may not fare much better.
Most experts agree that, as a rule, male and female dogs get along better than two females or two males.