Dogs Should Be Dogs
It’s easy to turn your dog into a family member and forget that despite her froo-froo dress up clothes and the fact she sleeps on your bed and sometimes shares your food, she’s still a dog. But it’s important for her emotional well-being to make an effort to let her be a dog, especially when it comes to socializing with other members of the species.
Too often we bring home a new dog and welcome the puppy as a member of the family. But then the dog becomes a fixture of the home, and rarely sees people outside of the family except for the vet and groomer. While our pet may meet and get along with our friends who come to visit, she needs four-legged friends of her own and even if you have more than one dog she needs to socialize outside the house.
Is this really necessary? Because chances are good that at sometime in her life she will have the opportunity to be around other dogs and it’s much easier on her and you if she recognizes them as potential playmates and friends, rather than fearing them and possibly reacting aggressively.
Socializing a puppy is easy, although you should wait until she’s completed her puppy vaccines, including rabies, before taking her out into the world. A young puppy may get overly excited at the prospect of making a new friend and her playful nature can go too far. Just like children, they don’t know what a stranger is.
If your community has one, a dog park is the best place to introduce your puppy to the world. Some well-planned dog parks even have special sections for small puppies to keep them safe from their bigger brothers. This is also a good opportunity for you to talk to other puppy enthusiasts to find out if their dog is interested in making friends. But also remember to play the field if the first connection goes sour, there are other dogs in the park. If your dog makes a special new friend in the park, then chat with the owner about scheduling time for the pups to play.
Alternatives to a dog park are walking trails, or even visiting a pet store that welcomes canine shoppers. Although being leashed makes some dogs react differently, it shouldn’t affect your puppy, just ask before approaching a strange dog.
The same general rules apply to an older dog, although if your dog shows anxiety or fear, or reacts aggressively to the approach of a strange dog, then a busy dog park might not be the best option. You might be better off trying a canine day care center or kennel that can offer supervised social interactions for Rover. Look for a center that can train your dog to get over his apprehension. In extreme cases a trainer or dog behaviorist may be needed, but socializing your dog is worth the effort.
You will discover that this extra effort will pay big dividends when your dog is in the presence of others. This is a must if you plan to bring home another puppy, ensuring that the new member of your family is welcomed by all.
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