If you have (or have had) dogs who appear to be on “auto-friend”—that is, every other dog is automatically their friend—then you are very lucky! Not all dogs are automatically comfortable around other dogs. Many dogs need time to adjust to another dog’s energy and presence before experiencing any pressure to interact.

And even with dogs who are on “auto-friend” it’s worth noting that the way we reduce dog relationships to “introductions” isn’t very realistic—or fair. Dogs form relationships just like humans do, and just like us, these relationships grow and change over time. If you really want your dog to have a good long-term relationship with another dog, then it’s best to take it slow.

Here’s what we recommend: