Dog socialization is a crucial aspect of dog training. Done right, it’ll ensure your puppy grows into a calm and relaxed pet that’s learned to be comfortable in a variety of situations, a dog that embraces new experiences with a calm, friendly disposition.
Done incorrectly, however, and behavior issues can emerge later in life. It can cause a dog to react with apprehension and fear of unfamiliar experiences. This in turn can make further training down the line far more challenging.
Dogs that are well-socialized are:
- More relaxed
- Appropriately friendly
- Calm in new situations
Early Years Dog Training
What does socialize your puppy mean? In a nutshell, socialization is introducing your new puppy to experiences in-home and out. It calls for puppy training that allows it to get used to different scenarios, and situations that will become normal going forward in life. Ultimately, the goal is to build those ever-important associations with positive experiences.
Additionally, the aim is to set the foundations for where boundaries lie. It’s not just about taking your new pet out to meet as many people as possible. An overly friendly dog can need behavior modification, too, if well-meaning but misdirected training programs are used.
Why Is Dog Socialization So Important?
Young animals (humans included) are naturally curious about their environment. Think of a toddler exploring. They constantly investigate, learning what’s interesting and what’s potentially harmful. Sometimes they recoil in fright at completely harmless situations. New puppies are no different. This stage of curiosity lets it get comfortable with the sights and sounds that will be part of its life going forward.
Correct socialization ensures your puppy doesn’t spend its life nervously jumping at every car horn or other dog, a dog that’s at ease around cyclists, vet examinations, and boisterous kids, as opposed to one that’s always stressed out by its environment.
Of course, being pack animals, this stage would naturally be taught by its mother and by learning from its littermates. When you adopt a pup, you give it a new social group to learn from, one that just happens to be people, not packmates.
Therefore, socialization is the process of teaching your dog how to live and be comfortable in the human world.
When to Socialize Your Dog
Ideally, this training is undertaken when a new puppy is between 3 and 12 weeks old. At this stage, it’s far more accepting of new experiences. When puppies reach a certain age, typically about 18 weeks, they become gradually more wary and even unaccepting of new experiences. This is a completely natural process, as it ensures in the wild that young dogs that spend more time away from their mother are on guard for potential threats.
This is why it can be harder to address an older dog’s behavior and why it often requires the expertise of professional dog trainers. While older dogs do present more of a challenge to socialize, it’s still perfectly possible, however.
The Right Approach
Getting dog socialization right requires a fine balance. It isn’t just about taking your new puppy out as much as possible. At The Dog Wizard, our approach is to create balance. We take a controlled approach, using our many years of experience with an understanding that each pet, owner and situation is different.
The end goal is a dog that’s capable of enjoying being around other dogs, people and its environment, one that’s respectful and controlled whether off-leash or on and taught that not every meeting is a guaranteed social interaction.
This makes training a lot more straightforward. It’s far easier to teach basic obedience to a pet that’s calm and relaxed and generates those same reactions from animals and people around it.
Incorrect Puppy Socialization Training
Lack of proper socialization can lead to a pet that’s nervous around other dogs, people and situations it’s not comfortable with. Have you ever wondered why some dogs bark at other dogs or lunge at people when they pass, even if they’re being friendly?
Some typical behavior problems that can also arise from incorrect socialization include:
- On-leash aggression
- Nervousness when approached
- Excessive barking
- Fear-based urination
These behavioral issues develop when a dog doesn’t make the necessary association, learning instead that everyday occurrences, such as meeting other dogs or seeing a new person, may be something to be wary of. This may in turn be made worse by further incorrect training by well-meaning pet owners, which can embed or strengthen the poor start.
Socialization Training Programs for Older Adult Dogs
Not all dogs are fortunate enough to experience the luxury of socialization as puppies and it’s not always possible to properly socialize a dog when it’s young. Maybe it was sick as a puppy and was kept away from other dogs. Perhaps you rescued it at an older age and it never got the opportunity to mix.
Whatever the reason, it doesn’t mean it has to have a life without free play with others. While it may be more difficult to socialize older dogs, with dedication and patience, this goal can still be achieved. It often requires specialized training classes that address behavioral issues that have become ingrained.
Dog Trainer Near You
Regardless of whether it’s a new dog or an older pet that requires socialization, The Dog Wizard is here to help you and your pet at this critical stage. We welcome dogs of all ages, whether for one-on-one private lessons or group classes.
Whether it’s socialization, housebreaking, or crate training, our techniques and expertise have helped thousands of dog owners. Schedule an evaluation today and find out more about our dog training services.