Field Guide · Glossary
Meet & greet
Methods and protocolsA structured first introduction between two dogs, arranged so both stay comfortable rather than being brought face to face.
How it works
The usual shape is neutral ground neither dog considers theirs, loose leashes, generous space, and movement in the same direction before any direct contact. Head-on approaches are socially rude between dogs and are largely an artefact of how humans hold leashes, so the structure exists to avoid creating a problem that would not otherwise occur. A greeting that is going well is short, and both dogs are able to disengage and move on.
What it looks like
Two dogs meet in a park neither has visited, walk parallel with sixty feet between them for ten minutes, gradually close to fifteen, and only then sniff briefly before being walked on again.
Commonly confused with
- Parallel walking
- Parallel walking is the technique of moving two dogs in the same direction with space between them. A meet and greet is the wider introduction, which usually starts with parallel walking and may end with contact.
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