We had two dogs that pretty much just lived in our home and yard. We went on walks sometimes, but not everyday. We sometimes had people over, but not very often. We sometimes went to dog parks, but it was rare. Once, when they were both adults, we decided to take them on a roadtrip and stay at a hotel, and that experience was eye-opening. The dogs were restless and barked or growled at every single sound. It was a long night of dogs notifying us of every tiny thing going on in that building. Hotels are absolutely filled with smells and sounds, even if humans aren’t smelling or hearing them all. The dogs were unhappy, annoying, and we pretty much stopped traveling with them after that. It seems we hadn’t properly socialized our dogs…lesson learned.
Eventually we graduated to human babies. When my son was just a week old, we took him to a restaurant. When my son was two weeks old, we took him to the beach. When my daughter was a month old, we took her on an airplane ride across the country. Some people thought we were crazy… some people still do… but we ended up with easygoing babies that were up for anything and napped anywhere. This calmness and ability to adapt and go with the flow has followed them as they grow. In a way, we were constantly socializing our children as babies, perhaps in part because of our experience with our dogs.
What is Socializing for Pets?
Do you want a calm, collected, well-behaved dog? If your answer is yes, you will want to make sure you are socializing your pet from a young age. Socializing a pet is exposing them to new people, animals, and experiences in a safe, supportive way. It helps them to learn about the world and see the world as a safe place. It helps them adapt and react appropriately to new sounds, smells, and stimuli.
Top Tips for Dog Socialization
Handling
When you get a puppy, make sure you are handling them. Pick them up, hold them, and have other people do the same. Always be gentle and careful, but help get your pet used to being held and touched.
Sounds
Expose your puppy to lots of different noises- music, people talking, yard work, children, buses, vacuuming, laundry machines, cars starting, fireworks, ambulances, and anything that is common where you live. You want your pet to be familiar with lots of different sounds and to understand that the sounds are not scary or threatening.
Food
Feed your pet at regular times so they know when to expect food. You can work with your dog to sit or stay until you give the go ahead to eat. As a puppy, you can remove their food after they have eaten some. You want them to expect food and be comfortable and confident that their needs will be met, but you don’t want them to become protective or guard food. Have them eat with another dog, spill food and make them leave it, and help them understand that they will never go hungry and therefore don’t need to worry about food.
Alone Time
Puppies need regular attention and lots of regular bathroom breaks. A general rule of thumb is that a puppy should not be left alone for more than their age in months. So, for example, a three-month old puppy should not be left alone for more than three hours. Be consistent and reliable so your puppy isn’t pushed past their max. Make sure that you have a routine and they are comfortable when you go. It often works well to crate your puppy while you are gone. It gives them a safe, comfortable place to rest, and it keeps them safe and out of trouble. You want your pet to feel comfortable being left alone and to understand that you will always return. Start small and stay reliable. Consistency and routine build trust and help your pet adjust to time away from you. If you need to be away for longer periods of time, consider a pet sitter. A pet sitter can come into your home, walk your dog, and make sure they get the attention they need at regular intervals.
People
Expose your pet to people. Take them outside. Take them to parks. Take them to festivals. Take them to your friend’s house. Wherever you can expose your pet to safe, friendly people, do so. Vary your people! Give your dog the chance to meet old people, children, men, women, dressed up girls in heels, men in construction hats, kids wearing sports uniforms, people delivering goods, kids wearing costumes… variety helps the dogs learn that people can come in different shapes and sizes and forms and they don’t need to be afraid. I have met a number of dogs who seem to be very afraid and aggressive towards men and have come to find out they have never been around men growing up. Enlist help and expose your pup to a variety of different people.
Dogs
Similar to exposure to people, expose your dog to other dogs! Always make sure your puppy is vaccinated and at a safe age to be around others, but then let them meet other animals. Take them to a dog park, take them to doggy daycare, go hang out with your brother’s dog or your cousin’s dog… Dogs are pack animals and are used to living with other dogs. If you only have one dog, find opportunities for them to sniff, play with, and chase other dogs. Always do so in a safe manner and make sure the other dogs are friendly and good candidates for your dog to meet. Use good judgment and safety measures, but don’t keep your dog solo just because it seems easier.
Why is Socialization so Important?
Having a dog that flips out at every experience is exhausting. It is not fun to have to change your entire life because your pet won’t tolerate loud noises or guests or other animals. Socializing your dog helps them be happier, calmer, and more easygoing. It will make your life and your dog’s life eaiser.
What are Signs a Dog Needs More Socialization?
Generally, a dog that is struggling with something particular needs more socialization. If your dog is fearful of other people or dogs or sounds, he may need help. If you have long passed the puppy stage and a problem has grown in seriousness, consider getting expert help and training. You don’t want to make mistakes and make the situation worse. But remember that most times dog behavior can be improved if we work towards helping them with a solution. Don’t give up on your pup!
We loved our dogs immensely, but we didn’t do a great job socializing them. They eventually got older and now both have passed. We learned our lesson and worked to socialize our new puppies. Now we have dogs that have been to restaurants, dog parks, hotels, hockey tournaments, festivals, mountains, beaches, and dozens of other places. They get along with kids, adults, and people from many different backgrounds. They watch the action going on outside, but they don’t bark at it. They walk into a hotel room and curl up on the bed. They sit sweetly under a restaurant table, hoping for a treat. They are not perfect(!), but the ease of taking them places means they are constantly getting exposed to new things and continue to be open to new experiences.
Consistency is the secret to a well-socialized dog, and that’s where we come in. Book a regular dog walker with Peak City Puppy.
