Teaching your dog social skills is an essential part of training in the early months of your dog’s life. It is key for their well-being and for stress free interactions with other dogs and people.
Socialisation is a lifelong process and ideally should be started when your dog is still a puppy. However old they are, dogs can always learn new tricks and improve their social skills too. So, it is never too late to start.
Dog socialisation should begin as early as you can. For puppies the ideal time is between 3 and 14 weeks of age.
A good breeder should have started this process for you before you bring your puppy home. The first 3 months are the critical period for dogs so exposing your puppy to as many people, animals, and environments as possible will give them a great start in life. Always make sure this is done in a positive and controlled way.
All new interactions should be positive experiences for your dog.
Avoid situations that could be overwhelming or frightening as you want to minimise the chances of your dog becoming worried. This could lead to fear or aggression in your dog later down the line. This is key for older dogs as there may already be things that trigger them, so keeping tasty treats at hand and giving them plenty of positive reinforcement will to help keep them engaged and calm.
Take your dog to as many different places as you can.
There are lots of places you can socialise your dog including parks, beaches, pet-friendly stores, and friends’ homes. This will introduce them to an array of sounds, sights, and smells. The more they encounter the more social skills they will learn and the more confident they will become in new environments. Gradual exposure is the best way. Using a socialisation checklist could help.
Take your puppy or adult dog to a local dog training class.
These classes provide structured socialisation opportunities and help teach your dog obedience skills. Holistic dog training classes are ideal as they use positive reinforcement techniques.
Introduce your dog to all types of people. People of different ages, genders and ethnicities.
Meeting different people will help encourage them not to be scared by strangers they meet on their walks or when visiting the dog groomers or vets. When people meet your dog encourage them and your dog to stay calm. Again use treats and praise to encourage positive interactions.
If you have an older, reactive dog, talking to the experts is the best thing to do.
If your dog is already fearful or reactive to specific stimuli such as thunderstorms or other dogs, work with an expert dog trainer. They will teach you ways to desensitise and counter-condition your dog to these triggers. Certified animal behaviourists or dog trainers can help provide guidance and training plans to help combat behavioural issues or struggles you may be having.
Learning to speak dog will help you understand your dog’s body language.
Learning to recognise early signs of fear, anxiety, aggression, and playfulness in dogs is crucial. This knowledge will help you step in when needed and allow you to facilitate positive interactions.
Be consistent in your dog training and dog socialisation efforts.
Regular practice and exposure to different situations are essential for building and maintaining those important social skills.
Dog socialisation can take time so be patient
Just like humans every dog is different and will progress at their own pace. Be calm and celebrate the small wins along the way. Socialisation is an ongoing process and by taking your time it will help your dog develop excellent social skills and enjoy a happy, well-balanced life.
Our expert staff at Bruce’s Doggy Day Care go above and beyond to teach your dog those all important social skills.
With enriching activities throughout the day, your dog can build confidence surrounded by other well behaved dogs and dog carers that only want the best for them.
Off the lead freedom is the best possible way to help your dog just be a dog in a safe and controlled environment. They can make new friends, learn new skills and come home at the end of each day clean and content, ready for a snooze.
With 12 years of experience under our collars, Bruce’s continue to strive to continuously learn about dogs and what makes them happy.
Not only do we have puppy and doggy day care, we offer dog training and dog grooming too. Meaning your pooch can look and feel good all while having fun with their friends at day care.
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Socialise with Other Dogs
Socialise with Other Dogs
Arrange a doggy playdate with other well-behaved dogs.
Try and get a mix of dog breeds so your dog gets used to meeting furry friends of all sizes and personalities. A simple way of doing this is to take part in an organised dog walking group or enrolling your dog into a doggy day care.