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How to Socialize Your Dog

January 30, 2017 by Mary Telesz

How to socialize your dogThe thrill of getting a new puppy or dog is always met with the anxiety of how to train it. We all want friendly, cuddly dogs who get along with both our friends and their furry companions. Unfortunately, some dogs can develop bad habits or anxiety about meeting either humans or other dogs, and the result can be disastrous or scary for the pup. It is important to know your dog and know how to socialize your dog in order to keep peace in the household, with friends, or at the puppy park!

How to Socialize Your Dog

Before tackling training or trying to socialize your dog or puppy, do research into the breed(s) to find out what their typical behaviors might be. Talk to fellow dog owners and find what will work best for you and your furry best friend!

What is “Training” a Puppy?

“Training” does not necessarily mean teaching the dog tricks. Most of the time, owners are referring to teaching the dog how to behave in society, both with humans and other dogs. If you have ever seen an aggressive dog before, you know the detriment it can cause to families and loved ones, and the conflict it can cause. We all love our dogs, but what happens when they become a threat or danger to us, our families, our friends, or other pups? The best way to treat this issue is to prevent it (because, ya know, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”). Although tricks can be taught at any age for most dogs, behavior traits can best be taught from a young age, or it simply gets harder from there. So starting from puppyhood to doghood, let’s take a look and see ways to best train dogs to be social with both humans and other dogs.

Puppyhood

1. Get the timing right! Be sure not to take a puppy away from its mother or siblings too early. This can cause them both to become aggressive (because they do not grow up with the nurturing of their mother) and antisocial with other dogs, since they do not have that time to socialize with their fellow pups. It is best to wait 8-10 weeks before adopting a puppy and taking it from its mother. After that, the mother will stop caring for it as intensely, and a human is a much better fit at that point!

2. Socialize the dog! Be sure to involve your pup in as many socializing situations as possible. Taking them to obedience schools with other dogs, going to the dog park, and planning play dates with other dogs are all great opportunities for them to assimilate into the life of a playful and friendly pup. It is important to puppies, in particular, to play with other puppies. Why? It can teach them not to bite humans!

3. Schedule playdates — with people! If you want your puppy to be friendly to humans, as well, it is important let them meet, greet, and play with as many people as possible! A very cute idea to do this is to throw a “puppy party” where your friends can come and meet your new furry friend! This exposes them early to human interaction, which is shown to decrease aggressiveness in puppies towards humans. Also be sure to introduce the puppy to any neighbors, mailmen, or people that will be stopping by regularly.

4. If they live with you, they live WITH you. Adopting a dog and making them “an outside dog” is not healthy for the pup. Yes, some do require extensive exercise which may only be able to be provided sufficiently through hours of free run (in a fenced-in backyard). However, dogs are not their closely-related relative wolves. In fact, they have been almost completely bred out of their wolf-life instincts (and have been for almost 500 years). Dogs are domestic animals, meaning they need to stay inside the home during the night time and most of the day. If an animal is left outside for too long, they can actually become more aggressive, especially during the “coming back inside” phase. When a puppy is let into the home sporadically, they will become a little too excited and may get aggressive. It is best to simply let them remain inside. With the proper training, it is not that hard!

5. Let them be scared sometimes. It is important that your dog master the “fight or flight” (FoF) reactions. This biological reaction happens when an animal is scared or in danger: they will choose to either fight, such as bite or growl, or flight, which is a cool way of saying “run away.” If an animal never has exposure to this during the puppy years, it can be disastrous when they finally become fearful of something. The best way to combat this is to let them be scared sometimes: vacuum, turn on loud music, let them hear a lawn mower. All of these things will trigger their fight or flight and, with your comfort, they will find that flight is almost always the best option. It will also decrease their sensitivity to sound, so as to not trigger their FoF responses that often.

Doghood

If your dog is a little older than puppy age, it can be hard to instill new behaviors. The best way to help them become more social dogs with humans and other dogs is to use positive reinforcement. And this may take some time. This includes rewarding good behavior, and not rewarding bad behavior. Do not punish your dog. Dogs do not understand punishment like humans do. They just see it as being hurt, not being disciplined. Treats, behavioral clickers, and positive pets or tummy rubs lets the dog know that they are performing good behavior. Complete the steps above during puppyhood, but it might be a good idea to keep the dog on a leash for the first few times. If the dog is especially aggressive, consulting a professional might be the next step. Always ensure everyones safety before releasing an aggressive dog!

1. Focus on simply getting along, not “playing nicely.” As dogs age, they become stronger and sometimes more irritable. The puppy-playing may start to bother them, or their tempers may be a little shorter than that of a puppy. So, instead of trying to make them play with other dogs, try to socialize them to simply be around other dogs. Do this gradually, encouraging good behavior with treats.

2. Take it one dog at a time. Do not try to drag your grown dog along to a crowded dog park. The over-stimulation can cause their FoF to kick in and may result in some bad behaviors, even dog fights! The best way to handle adjusting your dog to new dogs is to let them make friends with each dog one at a time, then (when you feel comfortable) see how they interact together in small groups.

3. Take precautions when socializing them with people. Although they may not be aggressive, the sudden introduction to tons of people can cause their FoF in to kick in and can result in a panicked and scared or very aggressive dog. When introducing them to new people, have them sit on the couch in a normal position and then bring the dog into the room to meet them. Having a human walk in on them can cause too much excitement for a dog. Encourage the people to sit still, not paying much attention to the dog, unless he/she comes over to investigate. In which case, have them feed the dog a treat. Be sure to use proper treat-giving etiquette when administering treats. Do not hold the treat with the fingers; rather, lay the treat in the middle of the palm and stretch the hand out with the palm facing the ceiling. Do not move until the dog has taken or completely ignored the treat. Be sure not to do this with an aggressive dog, but only with a dog who has been successfully socialized a little!

4. Be patient. It really is hard to “teach an old dog new tricks.” Do not lose heart or motivation. Instead, continue practicing with the dog. Remember to be realistic: an aged dog may not learn to socialize in two weeks. This could take months, even a year, to master with confidence. Be sure to allow plenty of time to train the dog before introducing him/her to any new people.

Overall, training a puppy or a dog can be a very tedious task and requires time dedication, knowledge, and understanding. When trying to socialize a dog with humans, it can be a rather stressful process, especially if the dog is showing signs of aggression, anxiety, or hyperness. In these cases, it is best to take advice from a pet care professional who could help address the issues in a stress-free and professional manner. Remember to learn the habits of the breed of dog that you have and learn from the advice and mistakes of others. In the end, it is all about the healthy and happiness of the furry friend. After making that your first priority, everything else will fall into place! Contact Paw Pals Pet Sitting for more information on dog socialization or to schedule pet sitting services.

Filed Under: Family Dog

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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