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

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Rhodesian Ridgeback | Female | spayed

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.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on November 11th, 2016

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.
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