How to Socialize Your Dog at Different Stages in Life
There are plenty of things that dogs need– food, water, vet care, affection, exercise… and don’t forget socialization! Dog often thrive when they have some sense of community, whether they can connect with one good friend or a whole pack of them. Their whole world might just be you, if they’re nervous or unsocialized. Or, they might consider EVERYONE a friend! Just like humans, dogs feel happier and more fulfilled when they have the opportunity to make connections with other dogs (and humans).
The easiest way to socialize your dog is by starting at a young age. However, even if your dog is poorly socialized, nervous, or reactive as they grow older, you can still take steps to socialize them! We’re here to explain how you can help socialize your dog at every stage of their lives:
How to Socialize Your Puppy
We say that socializing a puppy is the easiest because the earlier you start, the better. Puppies are learning all the time, so there’s no better time to teach them. They also don’t start with negative feelings about humans or other dogs, but they can still form early on depending on their upbringing. So, start them with positive associations! Here are some ways you can socialize your puppy:
– Human handling: We recommend cuddling and handling your puppy as often as possible! This will help them become more trusting of humans and more comfortable with vet visits, pet grooming, and more. Handle their paws, their ears, their mouths, and more. Introduce them to a variety of people, so they grow to trust strangers, too!
– New sights and sounds: Since everything is new to a puppy, it’s important to be their guide. Introducing them to new sights and sounds will help them feel at ease in new and different situations! Take them on walks, into busy public spaces, into the car, and let them witness your daily routines at home. Hearing noises like emergency vehicles, phones ringing, microwaves, lots of people talking, and more can help them acclimate.
– Being alone: Help your puppy learn how to spend time alone! Crate training and making their crate a comfortable space can help with this. Set some time aside every day where you leave your puppy alone, whether it’s in their crate, another room, or by leaving the house altogether. This helps prevent issues with separation anxiety.
– Preventing aggression: There are different types of aggressive behavior to watch out for, but one that happens with food and toys is recourse guarding. This happens when dogs feel the need to defend their property from other dogs or even humans. Interact with your dog while they eat, talking to them and approaching them. You can even add treats to their bowl while they eat so they form a positive association. You should also avoid any tactics to ‘dominate’ your puppy. Positive reinforcement is the best approach to teaching good behaviors. You can also prevent biting by loudly saying “OW” when your puppy bites, then stopping play to teach them that’s bad behavior.
How to Socialize Your Adolescent Dog
– Introduce your dog to new people and new dogs: Maintain your dog’s comfortability and familiarity by continuing to introduce them to as many new people and dogs as you can. This can help ensure that your dog thinks of other humans and dogs as friends, and generally, as a good thing.
– Handle fear with patience and guidance: Fear can turn into aggression. That can be directed at humans, dogs, or other unknown sounds or situations. Don’t punish your dog for acting fearful, but instead, try to redirect their focus. Try using basic commands they know, like sit or lie down. Act as usual to let them know that the situation isn’t something to be scared of.
– Continue introducing your dog to new things: To ensure they grow comfortable with new situations, you’ll want to keep exploring the world with your dog. Take them for rides, on walks to new places, and out into the public. Exploring the world with them at your side will help them remain comfortable with new environments! Keep expanding on what you’ve introduced them to, giving them more new situations to get used to.
– Maintain good behaviors: Keep handling your dog, leaving them alone for some time every day, and everything else you’ve done to socialize them so far. Maintenance is what will help your dog continue to learn and grow to be truly social. Without practice, they might forget what they’ve learned and revert to being afraid of the world.
How to Socialize Your Adult Dog
– Use slower introductions: While your puppy may have been happy to be surrounded by unknown dogs and humans, adult dogs are more prone to getting overwhelmed. Try to use slower introductions, meeting new people or dogs one at a time if possible. Adult dogs will likely feel more at home in groups of familiar faces.
– Maintaining friendships: Everyone deserves friends. Try to help your dog make lasting friends, so they’ll continue to have familiar faces around. This can include your human friends, their dogs, a dog pack at a local indoor dog park, and people within your community– your neighbors, the people at your vet’s office, and more.
– Discourage aggression: Aggressive behaviors can creep up on you, but there are some key situations to watch for. Continue to monitor resource guarding and leash aggression, which can begin for a variety of reasons. Learn how to make good introductions with your dog, avoid introducing them to new dogs while on walks, and don’t punish your dog for reacting with fear.
– Maintenance continues to be crucial!
No matter what stage of socialization and growing up your dog is in, Dogs of Tucson is here to help!
We always start with a social evaluation to determine what your dog is comfortable with, where they might be sensitive, and how we should proceed with making introductions. Our experienced team makes good introductions between dogs in a way that keeps everyone comfortable while taking interactions as slowly as needed. We’re prepared to take any situations slowly, or alter them, to fit the needs of dogs that are new to our pack. Our goal is to give each dog a happy, safe space to socialize and play within our pack!
Our services to help socialize your dog include:
Adventure Club – The Adventure Club is for humans and pups who want to join us on local adventures! These events are to help your dog gain confidence and learn to be comfortable in public dog-friendly places. They’re a great opportunity to:
– Get connected with the local dog community
– Enjoy local walks, hikes, events, lunches, & more
– Give your dog (& you) more chances to go out & socialize
– Help your dog practice being on good behavior in public
Dog Walking – One of our professional dog handlers would be happy to take your dog out for training walks! We’ll come by to take your dog out for a walk through the neighborhood, practicing what they’ve been working on while also reinforcing the basics.
Our training walks are designed to help encourage manners and obedience skills, including various exercises that your dog can benefit from. Some of these include: walking on a leash without pulling, coming when called, sitting on command, leaving a scent alone, or ignoring something they see on the ground.
Dog Training:
The Bark Park Readiness Sessions – If your dog has never socialized OR you simply want to build some confidence prior to visiting our indoor dog park, our Park Readiness program is the solution for you. Readiness is a bridge to help undersocialized dogs become comfortable with other dogs and humans!
Day Train – Designed for dogs in doggie daycare, this 30 minute session with a trainer is meant to polish and refine skills. Skills covered include: attention around distractions, loose leash walking, heel/sit, stay/down, and leave it.
Comfort Care Sessions – We will use our expertise to strengthen your dog’s trust to make any human handling easier and more enjoyable for them. These sessions are ideal for puppies or dogs who are terrified of or uncomfortable with new experiences. Our caring, professional team will help your dog experience things that make them nervous with more confidence.
Dog Daycare: Doggie daycare works a lot like daycare for children. You drop your dog off in the morning on the way to work. While you are gone, your dog’s day will be filled with activities for your dog’s specific needs and temperament. Your dog may enjoy his day by playing with other dogs, playing with people, or snuggling up on a nice bed or couch and getting loving attention. They can socialize at their own pace, deciding when they need a break and when they’re ready to meet someone new.
Indoor Dog Park (The Bark Park): The Bark Park is a clean, inviting, and safe space to enjoy with your off-leash dog. We help celebrate and encourage the bond between dogs and their people by providing a place to play and be social together. You’ll both have the chance to socialize and make friends during your visits– which are unlimited with a membership! We also host various events like themed parties, dog yoga, book club, learning opportunities, and more.
Dogs of Tucson is here to help your dog learn how to socialize no matter what stage of life they’re in! We meet them at their comfort levels and give them a safe place to explore making new friendships and becoming part of a pack.
You can get to know more about us here!
Call/text or email us to set up a social eval: 520-492-3015 | waggintails@dogsoftucson.com