One of the most important things to remember to keep your dog healthy is that you must allow him plenty of opportunities to socialize—with people and other animals. Canines are social creatures. Even taking regular walks with your pet around the block results in marked improvement in your dog’s overall health and behavior. There are plenty of ways on how to socialize your dog. The key is introducing him to new environments and experiences starting at a very young age. Even if you have an older dog, it’s never too late to get started on some basic socialization and setting up play dates!
Getting Your Dog Ready to Socialize
If you want to know how to socialize your puppy, or even if
you have an adolescent or adult dog, get started with these reminders.
1. Stock up on his favorite treats
Treats are a vital part of behavior training, same as
when you’re learning how to train your dog to socialize. Offering his
favorite treat with every successful interaction will help your dog better
associate the behavior with being rewarded and enhance the positive experience.
2. Take precautions
Larger breed dogs can appear
especially threatening to other people. During your initial outings, you might
want to use a muzzle first to avoid any accidents in case your pet shows
aggressive behavior.
3. Prevent leash aggression
Leash
aggression happens when your dog barks, lunges, or pulls forward when he
comes face to face with another person or another animal. Prevent any
threatening behavior before going out by training your dog to pay attention to
you when you call him. Say his name and offer him a reward every time he looks
at you. Start his kind of training indoors and gradually do the same outside in
busier areas.
4. Take it slow
When you’re just starting to learn how to get your dog to socialize, you
can never go too slowly. Don’t let him meet a bunch of people all at
once—that’s bound to induce anxiety if not an aggressive reaction. When
walking at a dog park, keep a comfortable distance from other people and dogs. If
he notices them, get his attention and offer a reward. If he barks or lunges, add
more distance. Keep repeating until he’s able to go closer without being
aggressive.
5.
Always keep your cool
Your dog may unexpectedly act frightened or aggressive and for these, you need to be mentally prepared. Whatever happens, you need to keep your composure because it’s the only way you can calm him down when he gets afraid or acts up.
How to Socialize Your Dog with Humans
How
do you socialize your dog with other people? Introduce him to the outside world
and maybe even consider a puppy class or dog boot camp.
1.
Never skip on your daily walks
The
easiest and best way to socialize your dog is to take him for daily walks.
Besides being a necessity so your pet can relieve himself, going out lets him
get more comfortable with his surroundings and explore new sights, sounds, and
smells. It also allows him the chance to meet new people and make new friends. Puppies
should definitely already be exposed to
different environments at three to 12 weeks old.
2.
Allow him to meet new people
In the case of a new dog or a puppy,
start with family members. Introduce new people one at a time and make sure your
dog is securely leashed. You can have the people meeting him, offer him treats
or his favorite toy to help make your dog more agreeable. If he seems fearful,
don’t push it. Try again the next day.
3. Enroll him in dog classes
Dog training classes are specifically designed to allow canines and humans to interact in a safe and controlled environment. Dog classes can especially be beneficial to puppies and young dogs, although an adult dog that’s not been accustomed to the presence of other people may also have a thing or two to learn. Your vet would have some information on where you might be able to enroll your pet.
How to Socialize Your Dog to Other Dogs
How
to train your dog to socialize with other dogs? Go to where the other dogs are, of course! You can take
him to a dog park or visit a friend who owns a pet.
1. Visit the dog park
If your community is lucky enough to
have a dog park, it’s definitely a great place if you’re just finding out how to socialize your dog
with other dogs and people. But if it’s the first time you’re taking your pet
to the park, it would be best to walk him around the perimeter first to
get him familiar with the presence of other humans and animals. Let him watch
from a comfortable distance. When he wants to go closer and sniffs around,
reward him with a treat. Wait for him to feel comfortable enough to approach
other dogs.
2. Take him to the pet shop
A trip to the pet shop with your dog
can turn out to be healthy. If you must go on a quick run to buy some dog food
or supplies, you might consider bringing your pet with you! If you haven’t
taken your dog with you on a car trip, check out these useful tips on how to prepare
your dog to travel.
3. Go on play dates
Talk to a friend or neighbor whose pets could use a playmate. Just remember all the safety precautions you have to take when introducing dogs to each other. First, make sure that the other dog is friendly. If your dog shows signs of discomfort like having his tail between his legs, cowering, or excessive panting, don’t force the interaction. However, if he shows signs of interest, give him a treat to let him know that being sociable is accepted behavior.
Here is an infographic how to train your dog to socialize with everything
Socialization should be part of caring
for your pet dog, starting at an early age. If you have an adult or elderly dog
who acts shy, fearful, or aggressive, a little dose of socialization can be
exactly what he needs. Just remember to keep interactions short so as not to
wear your buddy out. It’s also important to be patient because dog behavior
can’t change overnight. As long as you provide him enough time and exposure,
your dog will eventually learn to warm up to other people and animals.