How to Help Your Dog Get Along with Other Animals

In general, dogs are friendly and easy to get along with, especially when they’re around their favorite humans. However, unless you live in the middle of nowhere, your dog is bound to run into other animals from time to time. Here you’ll learn how to help your dog get along with other animals, whether they are dogs you meet on your daily walks or other pets in your household.

Other Dogs

Taking your dog for a walk is good for both of you. You’re getting some exercise and fresh air at the same time. However, for some dog owners outings are difficult because of other dogs in the area. In many cases, two dogs that meet on the sidewalk will be good-natured, expressing curiosity and interest but not aggression. However, if your dog tends to act aggressively towards other dogs, you’ll want to address this before it becomes a problem.

The first step in the process is to teach your dog basic obedience. Once your dog understands and follows commands like sit, down, and stay, it’s easier to control their behavior when other dogs are present. You can take an obedience class in your local area or hire a dog trainer to work one-on-one with your dog. Either way, you must practice the commands regularly to ensure that they’ll work when you need them most.

Strategies to Use

If another dog approaches, you can ask your dog to lie down and stay that way. In many cases, this will keep your dog from acting aggressively as long as the other dog doesn’t come too close. The down position sends a signal to the other dog that discourages aggressiveness, which is why it can be very effective.

Another tactic that can be very successful is simple avoidance. If your dog is known to be aggressive with certain other dogs in the neighborhood, you can simply switch to the other side of the street when another dog approaches. You can use this method in combination with obedience, but it will work in a pinch when you’re pressed for time.

Lastly, it’s important to socialize your dog with other dogs. You can do this by visiting dog parks or having your dog spend one-on-one time with other dogs in your neighborhood. You may even strike up interesting conversation with other dog owners in the process and make new friends for both of you.

If your dog does get into a fight with another dog, the best thing you can do is stay calm. You can break up the fight by pulling the leading dog up (not back) away from the other dog. It’s important to stay calm after the fight. The dogs will quickly forget about it, and there’s still a chance for them to get along just fine. In fact, even dogs that live together can occasionally get into a fight over food or as a result of misreading the other dog’s signals.

Small Animals

It’s possible for dogs to get along with small animals, like rabbits and guinea pigs. However, not every dog can learn to abandon their natural instinct and leave small animals alone. If your dog likes to run after squirrels or other small critters, you may be best advised to keep them away from small pets. 

To introduce your dog to a small pet, you must proceed in steps. The first step is to bring the small animal home and keep them in a room separate from the dog. In the beginning, your dog will spend a lot of time sniffing at door. After the dog loses interest in the new smells, it’s time to introduce them to the small pet by letting them go into the room, keeping them on a leash and the small animal safe in the cage. 

The goal is for the dog to lose interest in the small animal. You may only be able to keep the dog in the same room for a few minutes at first, rewarding him with treats if they stay calm. Eventually, your dog may learn to ignore the animal. It’s important to keep your pets’ safety in mind throughout the process. Your small animal should be secured in the cage where the dog can’t get to them and have access to food, water, and shelter.

If your dog can't seem to get along with your small animals, you have some options. If you can ensure that the small animal is safe from the dog, it's possible to keep both in the house. However, it's important to keep both safe before you leave the house each day and supervise all interactions between them.