How to Ensure that Your Best Friend Gets Along with Everyone Else
Your dogs are a part of your family, so you want to take them most places that you go, and you don’t want to relegate them to a pen, a back room or the basement when you have company. To ensure that Fido interacts well with others, you want to socialize your pet. What does that mean? What are the best ways to do that? Do you have to start when your dog is young or can you socialize a dog at any age?
What Does It Mean to “Socialize” Your Dog?
Throughout the course of your dog’s life, it will naturally be exposed to other dogs, new people and different environments, all of which can cause stress. As a general rule, the more positive experiences your dog has with new people, different dogs and unfamiliar environments, the easier it will be for them to adjust to them in the future. That means they won’t respond out of fear or engage in any type of “acting out,” damaging property or leaving you unwanted gifts.
Is It Ever Too Late to Socialize a Dog?
Just in terms of age, most veterinarians and dog trainers agree that it’s never too late to socialize a dog. It will likely be more difficult with an older dog, as dogs (like most people) can become set in their ways. If you have time and patience, though, you can teach just about any old dog a new trick or two.
How Do You Know If Your Dog Needs Socialization?
The common responses of a canine who needs to be socialized include:
- Fear of other people or dogs, including shyness, cowering or tucking their tail between their legs
- Aggressive behavior around other dogs or around people, including growling, snapping or jumping
- Raised hair on their back when meeting a person
- Nervousness on walks
- Hyperactivity around other dogs or around people
The Best Ways to Socialize Your Dog
Among the best and most effective ways to socialize your dog are:
- Taking them for walks—There’s more than exercise in a walk around the neighborhood or in the park. Your dog will get to experience sounds, sights and smells that are different, and it may be fairly common to encounter other dogs of people
- Introduce your dog to another dog in a controlled environment—Walking with another pet owner and his or her dog is typically the best way to do this. After a few walks, let the dogs check each other out while still on their leashes. If that goes well, you may be able to put them together in an enclosed area, such as a fenced-in yard.
- If they are timid around other people, use treats to break the ice
- If they are aggressive around other people, don’t use treats. Instead, introduce them to other people while still on a leash and make them sit, if possible. In addition, keep the first few meetings as low-key as possible. Don’t engage in activities with a lot of movement.
You can socialize a puppy or a senior dog to interact will with other dogs or with people, or to respond favorably in new environments. When you do, you can let your dog be a greater part of your life.
