Every dog needs a certain degree of socialisation to help them develop into well-rounded companions. Without proper interaction with other people, dogs can become anxious, aggressive and fearful — not the ideal pet!
Socialising your pup might seem daunting at first, but it’s essential for their healthy development and playtime fun! We’re going to delve deeper today into why socialising your doggo is important, as well as how you can go about doing it safely and successfully.
Hang tight while we guide you through all the ins and outs — so grab yourself a cup of coffee (or tea, if that’s more your thing!) and let’s get started.
How to socialise your puppy
Socialising puppies during their 3- to 20-week window of learning is essential for teaching them to be comfortable with unfamiliar things and reducing the risk of anxiety, fear and aggression later in life. Let’s take a look at the steps to take to get your pup off to the best start.
Handle daily
Young puppies should be cuddled and handled daily to help them get used to being touched. Try to do this with as many different people as possible. Vary the ways you hold your pup, and make sure you touch all over their body.
Sound exposure
Carefully expose your puppy to a variety of everyday sounds to help them adjust. You can try with things like the sounds of you cooking, phones ringing and the television or radio.
Food dish exercises
By introducing treats to a pup’s food dish while they are eating, they can learn to enjoy having people approach them and prevent resource guarding.
Step away once you’ve dropped the treat in, then repeat. Once they seem happy to see you approach, you can then progress to picking up their bowl, putting the treat in and setting it down again.
Teach alone time
Puppies need to learn how to tolerate being alone to prevent separation anxiety, which can be debilitating for both pup and owner. Start with short periods of alone time and build them up as your pup gains confidence.
Avoid aggressive behaviour
To prevent aggression, focus on rewarding correct behaviour and preventing undesirable behaviour. This will help you build a trusting relationship with your puppy. Avoid confrontational or physical responses.
Let your puppy meet new people
Introduce your puppy to new people, especially men and children, in a pleasant and unthreatening way. Do this daily if you can.
Nip biting in the bud
If your puppy bites during play, make a sudden noise (“Ow!”) and end the game. You can also provide appropriate toys. Be sure never to squeeze their mouth shut or shout at them.
How to socialise your adolescent dog
After the critical phase of socialisation of the first four to five months of your dog’s life, continue to work with them throughout their first year.
Introduce new people regularly
Socialising your dog with new people regularly helps keep them comfortable around unfamiliar faces.
Let them meet other dogs
Continual socialisation experiences are important for dogs to learn how to behave around other dogs. You can do this by taking them to dog parks, arranging doggy playdates, or just taking them on their regular walks.
Switch up your walks
Change up your walking routes to provide your dog with mental stimulation and new environments. They will enjoy the contrast between walking in built-up areas around your home and exploring more wild and open terrain.
It’s okay to be alone
Setting aside regular alone time for your pet, using baby gates or crates when you’re home to stop them from constantly following you or asking a friend to watch them can help prevent separation anxiety.
Remove your dog from fear
Showing fear or aggression in unfamiliar circumstances is actually a normal part of a dog’s development. Instead of punishing them, remove your dog from the situation and ask for a different behaviour.
Keep handling your dog
To avoid being bitten, owners should monitor their dogs for signs of discomfort, such as a stiff body or attempts to escape, when handling them. You can practise handling different areas of their body when they are relaxed.
How to socialise your adult dog
Adult dogs don’t necessarily need lots of socialisation time with other dogs to lead fulfilled lives. But here’s what you can do to ensure that mingling with other doggos works well for them.
Play for adult dogs is different
Off-leash play can be beneficial for puppies but may have detrimental effects on adult dogs who don’t want to get too close to others that they aren’t familiar with. Monitor your dog’s cues to see whether they and other dogs would benefit from playtime.
Set up gentle playtime
If you think playtime would benefit your dog, start off slow. Introduce one dog at a time and maintain a polite distance between them. Allow the dogs to interact briefly with loose leashes, keeping the tone of your voice soft and unthreatening. You can then progress to off-leash play in a fenced yard with short sessions to reinforce relaxed behaviour.
Adult dogs and leash aggression
Leash aggression in dogs — lunging or barking at other dogs when on walks — happens for a variety of reasons. These include being forced to approach another dog in an unnatural way. Dogs like to greet each other side-on, so approaching head-on can trigger this response. Proper training can prevent this situation. Try keeping your dog at a comfortable distance from other dogs and moving around them in an arc shape instead of head-on.
Start the right way for lifelong good behaviour
Socialisation is work that continues throughout your dog’s life. If you start the right way when they are a puppy and continue to reward good behaviour, you should end up with a well-adjusted and happy doggo who interacts appropriately with both humans and other dogs.
Look out for dog socialisation classes and training near you to pick up more tips and tricks, and don’t hesitate to consult your vet if you’re at all worried about your dog’s behaviour.
With a little investment at a young age, you’ll get the most out of your dog and forge a happy and lifelong bond!
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