Fun Day Friday -Socialising Dogs in a Multi-Dog Home

Tips For Socialising Dogs successfully in a Multi-Dog Home

It’s easy to assume that dogs living in a multi‑dog household become naturally well‑socialised simply because they share their home with other dogs. After all, they interact with them every day. But in reality, that isn’t quite the case.

Dogs from multi‑dog homes still need opportunities to socialise with dogs outside their own family group. This helps them grow into confident, adaptable individuals in their own right. Meeting a wide variety of breeds, personalities, sizes, and ages allows them to recognise and understand the many ways dogs can look and behave. Without this broader exposure, they may become unsure, overwhelmed, or even display inappropriate behaviour when encountering unfamiliar dogs.

A Morning Walk With the Sighthounds

We make a real effort to ensure each of our dogs gets regular opportunities to socialise with dogs outside our own household. This morning, I joined John on a group walk with some of our client dogs, which turned out to be a lovely mix. The group included four sighthounds—three from one home and one from another—all of them rescues. It was a brilliant chance not only for our own dogs to meet up with friends, but also for these rescue dogs to build confidence and enjoy some positive social experiences together.

Being typical sighthounds, they were walked on lead to keep them safe and to protect the wildlife in the nature reserve we chose for today’s walk. Their instinct to chase is strong, so using leads ensures everyone can enjoy the environment calmly and responsibly.

Jill & Holly enjoying a walk with sighthounds

Managing Play Styles and Personal Boundaries

Jill and Holly were accompanying me today. All the dogs had met before, so there was no need for formal introductions. I took Holly and Jill on lead to walk alongside the greyhound, while John handled the Spanish podencos, keeping them together on lead as a group.

However, play style needs to be taken into account as well. Jill is a lover of speed and can become over‑aroused very quickly. Although she’s perfectly happy walking on lead alongside her sighthound companions, they aren’t the most compatible mix when everyone is off lead.

Collies often have firm personal‑space boundaries, and a sighthound giving enthusiastic chase can easily cross those boundaries without meaning to. On the other hand, a collie’s natural herding behaviour could become a serious trip hazard for a sighthound running at full speed. For these reasons, it’s important to think carefully about the type of interaction you allow and what is appropriate for each individual dog.

Breed Recognition and Natural Companionship

Dogs of the same or closely related breeds often mix well and seem to understand each other instinctively. I’ve noticed that in a mixed group, dogs frequently gravitate toward another of their own breed, almost as if they recognise something familiar. This is certainly true of the podencos and the greyhound, who adore each other’s company. When they’re in a secure area, they’ll run together with complete joy, matching pace and play style beautifully.

Understanding Predatory Drift and Safe Pairings

A small, fast‑moving terrier could easily trigger the prey drive of larger dogs with strong chase instincts. Predatory drift is a phenomenon in which a dog’s prey drive shifts toward viewing another animal of the same species as prey, and it can end disastrously if not managed carefully.

Holly with her sighthound friends resting in the shade together

Holly, however, is an older dog who neither runs fast nor enjoys being chased by bigger dogs. Because her movement is calmer and she isn’t likely to spark that chase response, she tends to mingle with all the dogs in this group extremely well, both on lead and off.

Holly plays with podenco

Socialisation Beyond Play

Socialising isn’t just about play. It’s important that dogs don’t view every dog they meet as a potential playmate, as this can lead to frustration when play isn’t appropriate or simply isn’t on the agenda.

Parallel on‑lead walking is an excellent way to teach dogs to remain calm and relaxed in the presence of others without any pressure to interact. It’s also a valuable exercise for reactive or sensitive dogs who need their confidence built gradually and at a pace that feels safe for them.

Not all dogs want to play with other dogs, and that’s perfectly normal. It isn’t essential for dogs to engage in play with others in order to be well‑socialised. For many, especially as they mature, simply enjoying calm companionship on a walk is far more fulfilling than high‑energy play. As dogs get older, many become quite selective about which dogs they choose to interact with, preferring peaceful coexistence over boisterous games.

My own dogs rarely play with dogs outside their own family group, and this actually has huge benefits when we’re out walking. They choose to stay close to me, interact amongst themselves, and don’t feel the need to approach or interfere with other dogs we meet along the way. This makes for calm, predictable walks and helps ensure that everyone—dogs and humans alike—can enjoy their space peacefully.

Supervising Play and Preventing Over‑Arousal

When play is appropriate, it should always be supervised, and all dogs involved should be clearly enjoying themselves. Briefly interrupting play with a recall or a short pause is a healthy way to prevent arousal levels from climbing too high, as over‑arousal can sometimes tip play into conflict.

Chase games can become problematic if the dog being chased isn’t enjoying it or if the dogs never switch roles. Without that balance, what starts as play can quickly drift into bullying.

Wrestling Games and Trust Between Dogs

Some breeds naturally enjoy wrestling as part of their play style. If this behaviour is regularly practised within a multi‑dog household and the dogs aren’t socialised appropriately outside their own family group, they may try to initiate the same rough‑and‑tumble play with unfamiliar dogs.

Many dogs won’t appreciate this style of interaction, so it’s important to step in promptly and interrupt before misunderstandings or conflict arise.

Jill and Kaytee occasionally enjoy a good wrestling game together, but they would certainly take exception to an unfamiliar dog trying to initiate that kind of play. Wrestling requires a level of trust and mutual understanding between both dogs, and without that established relationship it can easily lead to discomfort or conflict.

Conclusion: Quality Over Quantity

Thoughtful socialisation is about far more than simply letting dogs “get on with it.” It’s about understanding who they are as individuals—their play styles, boundaries, instincts, and comfort levels—and making choices that help them feel safe and supported.

When we guide interactions carefully, give dogs positive experiences with a variety of companions, and step in when needed, we set them up to become well‑rounded, confident dogs who can enjoy the company of others without stress. Ultimately, good socialisation is about quality, not quantity, and about helping each dog thrive in a way that suits their unique personality.