Reactive Dog Owners Share the Magic of Adopting an Additional Calming Friend Into the Family

Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor

Jun 20, 2026 6:45 PM EDT

Friends are an amazing force of good in anyone's life, even dogs.

We already know that a dog is a human's best friend. It's a friendship that goes on for millennia, when wolves and people befriended each other, and fast forward a few thousand years later - we have our beloved BFFs, our doggos. But this next thread from the r/pitbulls community made us think that for a lot of dogs, despite their endless love for their humans (of course), they actually benefit the most from another doggo friend. We already know dogs make amazing friends, but we never seriously considered how good a friend a dog could be for another dog.

Now, it doesn't end only in a strong bond, a flourishing friendship. There's something extra there when it comes to reactive dogs. So what are reactive dogs? A reactive dog is one that overreacts to everyday stimulations and triggers like other dogs, people, or sudden noises. Rather than being inherently aggressive, this behavior is usually a heightened emotional response rooted in fear, frustration, or over-excitement, causing the dog to bark, lunge, or pull intensely on the leash. Basically, what would one call an "unruley dog" - but that's far from the truth, with the right knowledge and dedication.

Adopting a second dog into a family that already has a reactive dog is chance-taking. While many owners hope a second dog will cure their resident dog's reactivity, this approach can often backfire or lead to two reactive dogs. However, a calm and confident "mentor" dog can sometimes help by modeling relaxed behavior and showing your reactive dog that certain triggers are safe. And these dog owners show that with the right mindset, dedication, and love - getting a reactive dog a second doggo friend could be the magical solution to a calm household.

We're so proud, even here from afar, of all those people who took matters into their own hands and helped their reactive dogs achieve inner peace. And they don't just do it for them, because the act of adopting another dog helps another soul find a forever home. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved.

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Just by looking at this picture, you see how close these dogs are. Dogs with no trust between them would never be this physically close. And no, the first meetings at the dog park with stranger dogs don't count - the hind-smelling is assessing, not trust. It's an introduction, a greeting. So, having dogs being really physically close is a piece of evidence for a real doggo friendship.
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