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Meeting a Dog for the First Time

Posted Fri, Jun 01, 2007, 10:00 am PDT

Anyone who has ever interviewed for a job knows the importance of a first impression. To a dog, every new human being is an interviewee, and the impression you make during the first encounter is crucial to the development of a healthy relationship!

Some important things to remember:

Do not initiate contact with the dog. No matter how great the urge to crouch down to her level to play, remember that a new dog doesn't see you as a playmate. Until she has time to assess you and make up her mind, you're a stranger.
Allow the dog to analyze your scent. A dog sees the world in a different way than a person does. We sometimes assume that they will respond to us if we communicate by sound first, then sight, then smell. It might surprise some people to learn that they actually have it backwards! Let her explore your scent fully before attempting any other interaction. Do not touch, talk to, or make eye contact with her during this ritual. Once the dog is satisfied that there is no more to smell, she will give you a sign. Submission may come in the form of a friendly rub or touch, inviting you to give affection.
If the dog displays signs of aggression, the important thing is not to panic. A calm-assertive stance from you coupled with avoiding direct eye contact shows her that you are not a threat. If the aggression continues, make clear to your host that you are uncomfortable and have them remove the dog in a calm, firm manner.
If the dog has decided to ignore you, don't force attention or affection on her. The dog means no offense; she's just not interested. The best thing to do is just ignore her as well.

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63 Comments

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1. Renee / 32paws - 10:38AM on 06/01/07

From reading Cesar's Way, I knew to use these techniques when I met my two recent Chow Rescues. Pre-Cesar I would have crouched down and greeted them in a high excited voice. Instead this time I told the foster owner that I was not being unfriendly, I just wanted the dogs to take their time getting to know my scent before I acknowledged them. Thanks Cesar - Your "Way" has made such a positive difference in how my current pups are raised.
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2. angelica s - 2:15PM on 06/01/07

i love cesar, he's great !!!
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3. CJ Anderson - 3:20PM on 06/01/07

I hate to say that this action has done more to establish my credibility with rescues that I am working with then any other single thing as a non-certified trainer. Somehow, I am becoming known as a go to person for problem dog resolution JUST because I am following these most basic steps that Cesar offers so freely that ANYONE can do! When I walk up to the rescue people and do not engage with the dog as he wrote above, the longest it has taken for the energy to shift has been 15 minutes! Since I am on my 7th problem dog with this approach, I think there is a pattern!!! The FIRST consideration for me that I am working very hard to install in myself is to hit that ice cold - non-emotional centerness that one learns when doing martial arts. This is so EASY to do when something is planned - ie I know I am meeting a dog for the first time. What still gets me is if I am out with my dogs and from under a bush or around a corner, a new dog drops by. My first reaction when unchecked is "irritation" and not only does the dog react to it tangibly, but my own dogs take the energy ball and run with it, escalating the situation! Using this technique of Cesar's is how I got involved with this problem dog rescue in the first place. There was this chow trapped in a city maintenance yard that had 75 men paralized with fear (no joke, everyone had to be escorted outside until animal control came to capture and put down this red-zone dog)! As a safety contractor I was exempt from their rules and decided to go out and see for myself. The dog was in complete terror. So I followed one of Cesar's earlier rules to tire the dog out, just let him run run run, with no look, touch talk. When he retreated into a u shape block area, I just sat down in the entrance for about two hours. When he bumped my arm just like Cesar said, it was a completely different manageable dog. I have also noticed, that when I walk my dogs in "the zone" as Cesar says, that I have not had a dog come up to us, it has only ever happened when I am stopped and we all are distracted and looking around, that a dog will come over. These little articles he is writing is really helping meto see the gaps of what I think I undestand, and practice and what I really get about Cesar's Way! Thanks You Cesar!!!
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4. Marlene - 9:05PM on 06/02/07

I have a 2 1/2 month old female Papillon full of energy typical puppy! She does all the usual puppy things, nipping, biting, jumping etc. Having just read Cesar's advice on handling these with older dogs, I have begun applying his advice to my little one. While the urge to cuddle and kiss such an adorably sweet pup is strong, I have been withdrawing when she exhibits undesirable behaviour and notice she learns very quickly to calm down for the affectionate reward! It's amazing, even in such a young dog! Thanks Cesar, following your way I am sure I am on the road to raising a perfectly behaved dog!
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5. p38jane - 3:19AM on 06/03/07

I have a rescued part Chow 9 yr.old dog whom I must put into her crate as soon as someone comes to my door. She barks, snarls and in general acts very agressively. People are scared to death of her and I don't blame them. However, she is so very very affectionate with my husband and I.She will search everywhere for me if I have gone out even just outside.We love her so much but she is socially unacceptable to all outsiders except one daughter. I had been told about the dog whisperer but he wasn't available on any of my channels nor on the radio. I feel so lucky to have found him as well as reply #3 that I have just read. I can't wait to read more and get help from this site .What a blessing I have received already this morning and today is Sunday....Thanks dog whisperer and to reply #3.
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6. nidhi g - 3:39AM on 06/03/07

these tips are really great. iam a dog lover. Our perceptions on how to treat a dog for the first time were so wrong! i always thought that touching a dog lovingly on his head & talking lovingly would make a new dog like me but it was not the case every time. guess cesar's tips make a lot of sense.
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7. kyle_kartoon - 9:43AM on 06/03/07

hi
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8. susafish - 10:33AM on 06/03/07

I'll be watching for your answer to p38jane with interest as I have a similar problem. Darby T is a Soft Coated Wheaten Terror - he adores my daughter & me and certain "regulars" but can really behave in an alarming way to strangers. He charges the door barking furiously - also during walks tends to carry on if another human approaches. In fairness to Darby, he wasn't treated well in his former home and so I think he is very confused. Looking for a way to make this better. I love having friends over but we have to get this taken care of and soon! Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
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9. Chris - 11:22AM on 06/03/07

I will remember that when I meet a new dog...Hey, do you have any advice for dogs that hate baths? I can never get my dog near a bathtub or hose without hours of getting her to do it.
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10. annettehutch - 5:55PM on 06/03/07

AnnetteH I will pass on the good info..... I have a quirkey min pin that loves females but not males, how do I fix this??? I am a huge fan of Cesar and watch the show as often as I can.
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11. wordwitch88 - 5:44PM on 06/04/07

I have a 5.5 month old boxer boy. The problem we have with him is, he acknowledges me as alpha (I'm female), but we can't get him to treat my husband as the 2nd alpha. Instead, Gomez (the dog) is constantly mouthing, and play biting my hubby - trying to get him to play all the time, and won't listen to my hubby when he tries to correct the dog. We've tried doing the fingers to the back of the neck, like a momma-dogs correction hold, but this has no effect. Can you suggest something? It's really getting out of hand - my hubby has to constantly stand up and leave the room to avoid getting bitten and pawed. Thanks!! Marian
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12. 9s=niceko, Luv pokecrater, Barbara9sko - 3:35PM on 06/06/07

Yes!!! Cesar Millan!!! You are so right.... -9s-
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13. marie_3792 - 7:54AM on 06/07/07

what if the dog (like my dog) gets overly excited with visitors...like wants all the attention....I know you said what if the dog is disinterested...but what do you do to calm a dog down...if he is too interested?
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14. Mereille - 11:34AM on 06/08/07

I have a one and a half yearold puggle that use to drive me crazy with all the energy but since watching Ceasar i have learnee so much. one great thing i did do was get Busgy a companion who was much more laid back, i got a bulldog, who even though they play alot is less hyper, it made the worls difference. Thanks Ceasar, your the best
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15. joshu_winky - 11:50AM on 06/08/07

I can relate to p38jane and susafish. My Australian Shepherd is the most loveable dog once he knows someone. BUT to strangers he is aggressive. I worked quite a bit with a trainer on dominance training and socializing him. There is hope for these dogs. However, it is the people that need to be trained! Max is not and never will be a dog that wants strangers to come up to him and start petting him. He is insecure and has a guardian instinct. Now that he trusts me as his leader he is much easier to control. I am much more at ease with him too. I do follow Cesar's rules because they fit Max to a T. He does not want strangers to look him in the eye, touch him or approach him. Period....even if "all dogs love me" or "i am a dog person". I used to think all dogs would be loving like my sister's old Golden Retriever - not! I tell new people to ignore him, do not make eye contact, do not touch him, even if he approaches you. He needs to smell them first and get used to them. The next time the person visits he will greet them calmly and is okay with them touching him. I am cautious with kids because #1 they are easily frightened #2 they tend to not listen to directions and #3 will start screaming when excited or scared which then sends the energy level up. I do not let children approach him if they are strangers and I titghtly control any greeting with them. I need to protect him from being in a bad situation.
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16. sxm16d - 12:02PM on 06/08/07

what should one do with a dog that wants to jump on you. i have been told to just flex your knee out as to push them off. is this correct?
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17. pitbullsrlovers - 12:16PM on 06/08/07

Cesar Milan is the best thing to happen to the public in reference to dog behaviors. Or should I say human behaviors. Thank your for sharing your knowledge Cesar. I wish you continued success.
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18. - 12:18PM on 06/08/07

What do I do if I am walking my dog or walking alone, and a clearly aggressive and threatening dog approaches? Thanks.
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19. skulltj - 12:20PM on 06/08/07

I have a 2 year old Male Nordic Golden Retreiver. I strted walking him on a leash when he was 4 months old and he did great, walking next to me and not pulling on the leash. Now when I try to walk him he will start walking then just sit down and he doesn't want to go any further, he wants to turn around and go home. Sure could use some suggestions on how to stop this from happening.
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20. Jenna P - 12:22PM on 06/08/07

When a dog jumps on you, turn away and ignore them until they calm down. I used to believe the same "knee out" correction, but now that I am grown with my own recent rescued dog named Cece, the turning away and ignoring her is the only thing that will work. Try it, I promise the results will be swift. Go Cesar !
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21. Matthew T - 12:24PM on 06/08/07

I think an important part that's missing from this is how to properly socialize your dog so it will react calmly to uneducated people that try to rush up to it and "manhandle" it without going through the proper interactions, as in article above. As a dog owner, it is your responsibility to control your dog and teach it not to be afraid of this type of interaction. At the same time, you must train the people that approach your dog as to the proper way to introduce yourself. Parents also really need to take the time to teach their kids about this. When showing my pet Jindos, I always try to take the time to give kids a quick lesson in this technique before they reach out to pet my dogs. But there's also one or two instances where a child will run up and start petting a dog heavily, to where you can see it makes my dog very uncomfortable. Maybe the child has another breed of dog at home that allows the child to play roughly with it, or maybe the parents just aren't watching their children closely enough, but NOT ALL DOGS BREEDS ARE THE SAME. Some are more tolerant of strangers running up to pet them. Some breeds will take offense, and will snap at your children out of frustration, self-defense, fright, or out of defense for their owner. That doesn't mean the dog is bad or should be euthanized; it usually means that the human made a mistake in reading the dog's body language and in properly introducing themselves. So, please people: - Socialize your dog, - Control your dog, - Educate your children, - And educate others about the proper way to approach your dog.
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22. skulltj - 12:28PM on 06/08/07

I have a 2 year old Male Nordic Golden Retreiver. I strted walking him on a leash when he was 4 months old and he did great, walking next to me and not pulling on the leash. Now when I try to walk him he will start walking then just sit down and he doesn't want to go any further, he wants to turn around and go home. Sure could use some suggestions on how to stop this from happening.
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23. Cyndi A - 12:32PM on 06/08/07

In response to ChrisChris question about giving dogs baths, I had a sheltie/lab mix who as a pup hated getting baths, I would have to get in the shower with him. I told my vet about this and he asked me if he new how to swim, that after he learned that, bathtime would be easier. So I took him to the nearby state lakes and got him out in the water and played with him, after that bathtime was much better. It worked for me, who knows?
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24. jcschildknecht - 12:41PM on 06/08/07

I would like to know what to do when two cats live in the same house and cannot tolerate each other. One of the cats was previously declawed. The other is quite a bit younger. Please, dome ideas........Jankep
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25. akhilveluru - 1:02PM on 06/08/07

great
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26. - 2:09PM on 06/08/07

hi great
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27. - 2:09PM on 06/08/07

hi
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28. lng123lng - 7:13PM on 06/08/07

a 2 year old blueeye pit bull showed up on my drive way. i trapped her in my backyard hoping to find the owner some time, how do I make her feel at home over here for now, she won't eat her food, she only take dog treat and bbq ribs, and water, how do i find what her preffered food is ? and let her trust me , she always avoid me and walk away, non aggresively
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29. Sara D - 6:06AM on 06/09/07

We are thinking of adding another shelter dog to our pack of 3 "recycled" dogs ( 2 basets one male, one female; 5 and 7, 1 lab-collie?? 7 month old female) we 'met' him ("Sprocket" at the Flying Pig Marathon expo in Cincinnati) and are thinking or 'road tripping' from Chicagoland to get him ..usually we'd bring the pack members to meet the newbie but the distance is prohibitive our dog's "like" the car - but not 3 of them for 6 hours. Any thoughts? He's a 5 year old JRT mix - mix being key - we've been referring to him as "scruffy dog" for a month..we contacted the shelter several times and they're OK w/ out of state adoptions. The caveat they're stating is that he has 'boundless energy' - I'm guessing that being cooped up has a lot to do with that. They said same about the lab, and after a morning run, she's fine. We both work out of our house and do the daily walks and dog park. Any words of wisdom appreciated.
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30. Sara D - 6:07AM on 06/09/07

We are thinking of adding another shelter dog to our pack of 3 "recycled" dogs ( 2 basets one male, one female; 5 and 7, 1 lab-collie?? 7 month old female) we 'met' him ("Sprocket" at the Flying Pig Marathon expo in Cincinnati) and are thinking or 'road tripping' from Chicagoland to get him ..usually we'd bring the pack members to meet the newbie but the distance is prohibitive our dog's "like" the car - but not 3 of them for 6 hours. Any thoughts? He's a 5 year old JRT mix - mix being key - we've been referring to him as "scruffy dog" for a month..we contacted the shelter several times and they're OK w/ out of state adoptions. The caveat they're stating is that he has 'boundless energy' - I'm guessing that being cooped up has a lot to do with that. They said same about the lab, and after a morning run, she's fine. We both work out of our house and do the daily walks and dog park. Any words of wisdom appreciated.
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