6 Top Tips to Help You Socialize Your Dog with Other Dogs and Humans
Socializing your dog is more than just introducing them to new friends. It is a vital lesson that all dogs should learn so they are not scared or anxious around other dogs, or put other people and dogs in harm's way.
While many dogs might be naturally more social than others, you must teach your dog from an early age how to behave with other dogs and people. This will ensure they are prepared for all situations and learn to stay calm in stressful environments. Socializing your dog will enable you to have an enjoyable life with them and pleasant outings. It can also be a big help when transporting them to places and taking them to essential vet and grooming appointments. Your dog will not lead a very happy life if they live in fear or act with aggression.
Training your dog will take a lot of time and patience. Make sure you are ready for the commitment and prepared with the right knowledge. To help you on your journey to socialize your dogs with other dogs and humans, here are some top tips.
#1 Take your dog out for a walk every day
Investing in a dog is a big undertaking. A daily walk is essential for all dogs, not just because they require exercise, but it can also help socialize them with other dogs and people. On any walk you go on, you are exposing them to the outside world where you will inevitably encounter people, dogs, and other animals. If you go on a walk every day, they will quickly become comfortable with their surroundings and learn to not feel threatened.
#2 Expose your dog to new environments
When you do the same walk every day, they will become familiar with interactions with the same people and dogs. When they are comfortable with this, you should try to take them further afield to experience new smells, environments, people, and dogs. This is a great way to build up their confidence when they are on the lead. In addition to this, you can take your dog to see different people and homes, so they can learn that they are not threatening. It is common for dogs who are only exposed to one person on a long-term basis to see anyone else as a threat.
#3 Stay calm
Dogs are very receptive to you, as their owner. Whether it is what you say, or how you change your body language, your dog is going to respond. This means it is vital that when you are exposing your dog to new environments, people, and dogs, you stay calm. If you don’t, they will sense your fear or anxiety, and it will reflect in their behavior.
If your dog gets over excited or skittish, you should try to remain calm. When you are confident, your dog's reaction will be minimal. You should be careful that you are not rewarding their fearful or aggressive behavior, and only give them a treat when they have a good response to people and dogs. This will help strengthen the positive association with new experiences.
#4 Be safe
If you believe your dog is a risk, then you should always take extra precautions when you start this process and even seek professional support from an experienced dog trainer. Go back to basic training with your dog and make sure they learn how to be calm and respond to your commands.
When you begin socializing your dog, you should ensure that your dog is not hyped up before they interact with other people or dogs. You should also make sure that you ask anyone who is going to approach your dog, to do it slowly and calmly. Often, when someone charges toward a dog, they can get scared and see it as a threat. Make sure you can see the person's hands when they stroke your dog and keep interactions short, to begin with. If you are exposing your dog to other dogs, make sure you watch them carefully and be aware of any behavior that starts to get uncomfortable for either of them.
#5 Seek professional support
One of the best ways to socialize your dog is to take them to a professional dog trainer.
Dog training classes offer a safe, welcoming, and controlled environment for dogs to be exposed to other dogs, people, and items. Classes are a great way to learn how to properly expose your dog, how you can respond positively, and learn important steps that you can practice with your dog. Trainers have a wealth of experience under their belts, which means they can help tailor the activities and responses to the needs of your dog.
#6 Be consistent
Whether you are slowly teaching your dog to be social, or you are going to a dog training class, you should stay consistent with your training. Your dog mustn’t get too complacent, so you should continue to regularly expose them to new environments. Not only is it good to create a confident and social dog, but it will ensure your dog can enjoy the outings.
Socializing your dog is vital for its health, happiness, and safety. Follow these top tips to ensure your dog learns positive habits and behaviors.