I hear people talking about socializing their puppy or dog all the time and what most people view as socialization includes the dog park, off leash play with as many dogs as possible and tons of meet and greets. The word socialization is used all the time when it comes to dog training but the word does not have just one definition. Some people view the above as the ideal way to socialize their dogs, I disagree.
Some dogs can spend their entire lives going to the dog park and seeing countless people or dogs on a daily basis but for others, this kind of situation could be setting them up for failure. What I usually hear people say is “everything was fine, they were playing and then all of a sudden they just started fighting out of nowhere”. Just like people, dogs have physical and mental thresholds under which they can safely and effectively operate at. Once these thresholds are exceeded, inappropriate or aggressive behaviors can arise and create potential future behavioral problems.
Being able to read your dog’s body language is vital to appropriate play and successful interactions with other dogs and people. This is difficult enough so when you add in other dogs you are unfamiliar with, it is very easy for a situation to go bad. Recognizing when your dog has had enough and getting them out of a situation is key, never assume that the dogs will work it out on their own. This also applies to dogs walking by on the street or on a hike. We have all had a negative experience with “a friendly dog” or know someone who has. What people usually don’t realize is that just because two dogs are friendly, does not mean that they won’t have conflicting personalities.
The best way to socialize your dog is to take them out to as many appropriate places as possible. Let them see other people and dogs passing by so that they learn being around people and dogs is normal but that they should be ignored unless you gauge the situation and determine that it appropriate for your dog. If you determine it’s a safe one for your dog then by all means go ahead, always but monitor closely. If you do not feel as though the situation is appropriate for your dog then simply say no, your gut is usually right. So, the next time someone asks you if they or their dog can say hello remember that it’s ok to say “no”. It doesn’t make you rude or a jerk, it just makes you a smart dog owner.
