Tips on Socializing Your Dog

You can't wait to take your new dog out on walks and introduce it to friends, family, and other pets -- but is your canine friend ready for such interactions? A dog who doesn't know how to get along with others may act aggressively, jump up on people unexpectedly, or avoid contact altogether. That's why you should make socialization training a priority for your pup. Here are some general tips to get you started.

Why Dog Socialization Matters

Dog socialization benefits everyone who might encounter your dog in the future. For instance, a dog that doesn't know not to jump on people might knock down or terrify a child, while a dog uncomfortable around strangers may bite a hand that tries to pet it. By socializing your dog, you're making those interactions much easier for others.

Socialization also helps your dog in many ways. By introducing your dog to new sights, sounds, people, animals, and environments, you're helping it learn to interact with others without fear or anxiety. The result is a happier, better balanced, more confident companion.

An Early Start: Puppy Socialization

Dogs are most open to learning and new experiences in the first three to five months of life. Your puppy's brain is like a sponge, soaking up new knowledge quickly and deeply during this period. That's why you should work on socializing your dog earlier rather than later if possible.

You'll want to acclimatize your puppy to this world of new stimuli to make it feel comfortable in social situations. Spend a lot of time holding and comforting your puppy while also allowing friends and family members to do the same. Your puppy will learn to associate human contact with happy times, making it less fearful of strangers and more eager to gain new friends.

Take similar care when introducing your puppy to other animals. Dogs typically get along just fine once they get familiar with each other. Taking your puppy on walks to dog parks and other social environments will also help it get comfortable with the feel of grass and pavement under its paws.

Puppies sometimes feel overly protective about the food in their bowl, leading to aggression against those who might come too close. You can defuse this instinct by giving your pet an extra treat every time you approach the food bowl. Your puppy will soon understand that it's okay for people to pass near the food bowl.

Puppies naturally want to use their new teeth, and some breeds can get rather "bitey" without meaning to hurt anyone. To stop this behavior, yell "Ouch!" when your puppy bites you during playtime, then suspend play until later. This routine teaches the puppy that others won't play with it unless it avoids biting.

Socializing Your Adult Dog

Have you adopted an adult dog that needs some socialization? Fortunately, while it's easier to socialize a young puppy, old dogs really can learn new tricks. The main difference is that an adult dog has already accumulated life experience, both positive and negative, so it may need more time to rethink its behaviors and attitudes. But it's always important and beneficial to socialize your dog at any stage of life.

Leash training is especially important for adult dog socialization. Full-sized adult dogs can put up quite a struggle during walks, pulling against the leash as they lunge at passing people or pets. Clicker training, accompanied by treats for good behavior, can tame this issue. Once you've gotten your dog used to wearing a harness and leash at home, take it out on a walk, using the clicker or a verbal command every time the dog tries to pull at the leash.

Common Dog and Puppy Socialization Mistakes to Avoid

As in any form of training, there are right ways and wrong ways to socialize your dog. Try to avoid the following common errors:

• Taking it too fast - As much as you want to get your dog socialized, you mustn't rush the process. If you expose your dog too many different kinds of stimuli too soon, you can easily overwhelm it. Always make sure your dog feels comfortable around familiar people and surroundings first, introducing it to new experiences gradually.
• Ignoring the trouble signs - If you're not paying attention to your dog's body language, you might not recognize when it's feeling anxious, fearful, or aggressive during socialization training. Watch for symptoms of discomfort such as drooling, trembling, tail tucking, improper elimination, and growling. Take them as signals that it's time to end the training session for now.

Trouble Socializing Your Dog? Talk to the Professionals

Dogs can be as individual as people in their behaviors and personalities, meaning that some may prove more difficult to socialize than others. If you're still having trouble teaching your pooch how to interact with others, enlist the aid of a professional dog trainer. These experts can draw on their wide range of techniques and years of experience to help your dog practice better citizenship.

Medical issues can also interfere with dog socialization training. For instance, dental pain, anxiety disorders, and pregnancy-related protective instincts can promote aggression instead of friendly behavior. If you suspect a medical cause for your pet's socialization troubles, consult your veterinarian so you can get the problem resolved and get back to socializing your pet!