Do Doggys Need To Socialize?

Doggys in the wild usually grow up in packs. The boundaries in the pack are very clear and every doggy learns to understand their elders. Domestic doggys also begin socialization in their litter and when they come into a human family, socialization with humans begin. Doggys really need to socialize with their people, but are perfectly happy with or without other doggys around. They are happier curled up in bed with us, with a piece of steak, than they are socializing with their doggys.

Socialization is very important. You want your doggy to be able to interact with other doggys, especially if you’re considering bringing a second doggy into your home.

Socializing an adult doggy can be more difficult than socializing a puppy. You will have to start with small interactions with other doggys. Make sure to reinforce positive behavior, and address the negative behaviors. An adult doggy may never be fully social or playful with others, but with some dedication you can teach an adult doggy to behave in the presence of other animals.

Socialize with Other Doggys

Bring the doggy to a park or Pet Shop – Let your walk around the park and make the rounds. Allow your doggy to watch the other doggys and observe their behavior. He might just make a new friend! You’re also likely to meet other doggy people in your neighborhood, which can set the stage for puppy playdates.

Prepare lots of treats – Doggys will do anything for a treat, so it’s handy to have a stash of these to keep your dog on his best behavior. Anytime your dog has a successful interaction with another dog give them a treat!

Resist tugging while walking your doggy – During walks and all of a sudden your doggy sees other doggys resist jerking on the lead and yelling at your doggy. Distract your dog with a treat and praise him when he pays attention.

Expose your doggy to different social activities – Don’t rush things, but if you can introduce your doggy to one new activity a week, it will go a long way towards helping them socialize and remain calm and well-behaved. Using a leash and muzzle helps in this regard, as does making your doggy an observer at first.

Join doggy training classes – Joining doggy obedience classes is a great way to help socialize a doggy before attempting going into doggy parks. Because your doggy is learning commands, he is distracted most of the time. This is also a safe place for your dog to learn to interact with other humans.

The main thing to remember when socializing doggys is to be positive and to make each new experience a good one with praise and treats. Corrections do not work well here and will likely create a more nervous dog. General socialization, including doggy-to-doggy socialization is important for us and our doggys. It will allow us greater flexibility and enrich our time together with them.