Dog socialisation is one of the most important opportunities you can give your puppy. But, it doesn’t stop there! Dogs should be socialised throughout their lives and in a variety of ways to make for a happy and healthy pooch.
Socialisation is key in leading a happy and well-balanced dog’s life!
Dogs who are able to interact, exercise and play with other dogs and people are taught that the world around them is fun. This can be achieved easily by letting your dog meet other people and pooches on your daily dog walks, attending dog socialisation classes or enrolling them into a doggy day care.
Socialisation helps build your dog’s confidence every time they are exposed to new interactions.
This can be easily achieved at home by inviting friends and family over for a play date. As well as cuddles, get them to play games like fetch or tug of war. Having fun with strangers will allow them to build confidence when meeting new people.
If you have friends with dogs, organise a small dog walk to introduce them to each other. Introducing them outside it allows them to become familiar with each other on neutral territory. If all goes well you could then bring them home for a playdate in the garden whilst you have a well-earned cuppa.
Continuing these new interactions with positive dog enrichment activities throughout their life will encourage positive reinforcement and experiences and ultimately make for a well-rounded dog!
Dog socialisation provides opportunities to help your dog develop good, new habits and behaviours. This includes helping build confidence which in turn will help ease any anxiety your dog may have in new situations.
Dogs who may not have had the right socialisation can often be fearful when it comes to new experiences like meeting new people or travelling somewhere new. This unwanted behaviour in your dog can be avoided.
Try and think of new places to take your dog to expose them to as many new sights, smells and sounds as you can. Maybe take them on the bus to town or for a walk in the country and show them the horses and sheep. The more situations they encounter the more confident they will become.
Check your local area as you may be able to find local dog groups that meet up for regular dog walks. The perfect way for your dog to meet a variety of dog breeds and hopefully make new friends.
Day care environments like Bruce’s, where your dog can be exposed to other dogs and people are also great ways to show you dog positive experiences in a safe and controlled way. Knowing an expert is on hand to help your dog if needed can help take the strain when training your dog in new situations.
Just like humans, dogs love company.
Offering a variety of dog socialisation activities is incredibly enriching for your dog and helps lead to a happy pooch and owner.
Playtime with other furry friends is a great opportunity for your dog to socialise, exercise and meet their BFFs.
If you have more than one dog in your household you may already see the friendship and love they have for each other. The bonds dogs have with humans can also be seen with other dogs they spend a lot of time with.
If you are only a one dog household why not try and organise to meet up with your fellow dog walkers and let you dogs play together regularly. This could help them form a special bond making them happier and more excited for their walks.
At Bruce’s we support dogs and people to form enriching and long lasting friendships.
With 12 years of experience under our collars, Bruce’s continue to strive to learn about dogs and what makes them happy. As well as a premium puppy pre school and award winning doggy day care, we offer a variety of dog training courses and dog grooming at certain sites too.
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