My dog might fight. How do I introduce her to a new dog safely?

Question

I am moving into a house where another dog is and I'm afraid mine will try to fight and get hurt to show her dominance, I am so scared please help. Pet's info: Dog | Rhodesian Ridgeback | Female | spayed

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

You're right that there can sometimes be problems when introducing two dogs for the first time, especially if either of them has any history of aggression towards other dogs. I would recommend introducing them in a neutral place at first, like a park. Keep both dogs on leash, let them sniff each other briefly, then go for a walk together. This allows the dogs to get used to each other's presence without feeling pressured to interact. After the walk, take them both home and into the house together and if things are going well, let them off-leash to relax. If things don't go smoothly, it would be best to get help from a veterinary behaviorist (ideally) or a good reward-based trainer who can work with you in person. You can search for a behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org or a qualified trainer here: www.ccpdt.org.

My dog might fight. How do I introduce her to a new dog safely?

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