Dear Miss Behavin’:
My son will be home for an extended visit over the holidays and he’ll be bringing his dog, Angus, with him. Angus and our family dog have met a few times, but haven’t hit it off. How can we help them enjoy one another more?
With the added excitement of the holidays, it’s understandable that your dog might be disinterested in prioritizing a friendship with a long-term guest like Angus. If both dogs are amicable toward one another, there are a few things you can do to encourage a bit more than just tolerance.
If both dogs do well on leash, take them on walks together often. Dogs tend to bond over sniffing, marking, exploring, and when it’s all over, napping. This is the simplest way to encourage two dogs to feel like they’re on the same team.
Since we humans tend to gather around our living rooms more often during the holidays, be sure to share attention equally and avoid favoritism. Attention is a resource for many dogs so you want to ensure there is no competition over snuggling, petting, kisses, etc.
It’s also important to prevent any insecurity or competition around food, toys, chewable treats, and dog cookies. We can’t do much about crumbs that fall to the floor, but Boo and Angus should be fed separately so each dog can eat peacefully. If you give each dog a chewable treat, make sure they are supervised and won’t bother one another. If your dog has a favorite toy, put it away unless she’s by herself. When dogs have to compete for food or feel anxious about something that should be just theirs, we can’t expect them to enjoy each other’s company.
Finally, be willing to give each dog a break. Just as many of us need to step away from the chaos of the holidays from time to time, your dog might need the same. There’s no harm in getting some fresh air together.