Meeting Other Dogs: From Reactivity to Confidence

How do you get a reactive dog to the point where they can actually greet another dog?

Most of the time with reactivity training, our main goal is simply to keep our dogs calm enough to walk past another without a meltdown. We start with counter-conditioning, teaching the dog that other dogs predict good things, and then work toward calmly walking past. Only once that foundation is solid do we start getting closer — and eventually, learning how to interact.

It’s tricky. It takes the right timing and the right dog. But when things are going well, you’ll start to notice curiosity creeping in. Your dog might scent the air, show softer eyes, a slow wag, or alternating glances between you and the other dog. That’s the moment their mindset is shifting from fear to interest.

Many people’s end goal is a nose-to-nose greeting — but that isn’t possible (or necessary) for every dog. Success looks different for each one. Confidence from both handler and dog is key, and ongoing support helps you learn which dogs are safe to meet and when to back off.

Timing is everything.

Take Moona, for example. She used to be highly reactive and still doesn’t love meeting new dogs straight away. But if she can be near them for a couple of minutes, she settles.

In the video, she’s on lead while approaching an off-lead dog who shows lovely appeasing signals — friendly but polite. Moona’s body language says she’s unsure: low head, hackles slightly raised. The off-lead dog circles, they sniff, and when they pause — that’s the crucial moment.

I don’t pull the lead.

I don’t rush her or tell her to move on.

I don’t interrupt her progress.

Instead:

✅ I keep the lead loose.

✅ I stay calm and neutral.

✅ I let her sniff and choose when she’s ready to move away.

✅ I praise her afterwards for being brave.

She wasn’t keen, but she coped. That’s progress — and with the right dog, those moments build real confidence.

That day she was on lead, but now she can be off-lead in the park, calmly passing others.

It’s all about training stages — slow, steady, and shaped by trust.