For many people, raising a dog means buying it, feeding it, and walking it. Dogs are what they are, and how they turn out is something that happens because of the environment in which they live.
If you ask many dog owners how they can socialize their dogs, you might get a response that involves raised eyebrows and a puzzled look. The definition of the word “socialization” is: “the process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society.”
So, doesn’t socialization even apply to dogs? I guess you don’t want your dog to attack other dogs in public, so that makes sense. And you don’t want your dog to bite the hand that feeds it, which is you.
Am I Even Ready For Dog Training With My Canine?
You may think about other challenges with dog training lessons that you may not be ready for. How do I find the right trainer for my dog?
Is private training the best option, or could group classes be better? Do I just want my dog to learn the basics, or do I want it to acquire advanced skills? And will I even know it if my dog develops a behavior that isn’t healthy?
If training is the answer, how and when should you socialize your dog? And is it something that is a one-time thing that shapes them into a pet that behaves in a way that is acceptable to society?
Taking Charge Of How Your Dog Develops
Social skills for humans and dogs are very different. Don’t dogs just adapt and develop their own coping and behavioral skills and learn to sit or lie down on their own?
The short answer is no.
If you want your canine pet to live a healthier and happier life, it should be a priority to take an active role in developing its social skills from the first day you own it.
A Well-rounded Pet That Will Stick Around
Perhaps you don’t have time to develop your dog’s social skills, or maybe you just don’t want to put in the effort.
Whatever the situation may be, there is a path to have a more well-rounded dog and to have plenty of time for your own life – by hiring a dog trainer.
Professional dog trainers help dogs to be more well-rounded around you and other people if they must spend time at home while you are at work, and around other dogs when in social settings.
When Should Your Dog Begin Socialization Training?
There is an old adage that says: “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” While it is more challenging to work to train dogs in socialization techniques who are older, it can be done. It just takes longer to do so than with a puppy.
Dog trainers
can improve your dog’s social skills, but it helps improve the success of the endeavor if the training starts early. Dog trainers recommend that you start the training when puppies are around one month old.
It’s easier to prevent bad habits in a dog than it is to break them. Working with a dog-training business early can prevent problem behaviors. Your trainer will offer advice and even a package that will work best for your dog.
Once a trainer learns what your definition of a socialized dog is, the education can begin!
Socialization Is A Partnership Between Dog Owners And Trainers
You’ve found a dog trainer that you like and you’re ready to turn your puppy over for socialization training. There is just one thing, though.
You don’t turn your puppy over for dog training.
You develop an ongoing partnership for your training with one goal: A course for helping your puppy become a happy, healthy dog that will feel comfortable at home and wherever you may take it. Look at it like this teaching partnership will be an education for you and your dog.
Communication Is The Key
While your dog trainer will create a personalized socialization plan for you and your pet, it will be a team effort. Once your trainer is confident that your dog is on the right track to being socialized, it will be time for you to take the lead with your training.
As you and your dog trainer work with your pet, communication is important. Since your dog will be spending more time at home with you, pay attention to how your dog reacts to dog training exercises.
Something that may seem normal to you might be a sign of concern to dog trainers. Take notes that you can review with your trainer to ensure that training is progressing as planned.
Going Slow Is The Way To Socialization
Older dogs who have experienced neglect or abuse often struggle with becoming socialized with other humans and dogs. However, it is just as important to socialize younger canines slowly.
Trainers plan socialization programs based on slowly building trust and confidence. This helps to reduce fear and anxiety in reactive dogs, which increases the success of socialization.
When owners reinforce the learning steps and operant conditioning is implemented by trainers when pets are at home, it increases the chances of having a calm, socialized pet for a lifetime.
A Controlled Environment Helps Socialize Dogs
It’s a brand new world for puppies. The transition from a world of darkness to…everything…lights, sounds, people and other dogs.
Life for an adult dog that hasn’t been socialized can also be full of new experiences. Humans often have a fear of the unknown, and the same can be said for dogs.
That is another reason a certified dog trainer can have more success with socializing a dog over trying to do it alone. Trainers have controlled environments that allow dogs to be socialized in a way that helps them overcome a fear of the unknown.
And if a certain aspect of a dog’s training causes negative responses, a dog trainer can eliminate or alter the exercise or equipment. When you control where and how a dog is trained, it increases the probability of a more well-rounded dog.
Trainers Know How To Create Neutral Environments
Controlled environments are important when training dogs to have a socially balanced life. But what about neutral environments? What are they and how do they impact a dog’s social training?
A controlled environment is a setting where trainers limit the sights, sounds, and stimuli that a dog will encounter. That environment will change as a dog advances in its social training.
A neutral environment is one where there are no positive or negative characteristics or features. Walking your dog alone is an example of this. Another is a quiet day or evening at home with your dog.
Owners often take their pets to dog parks for some outdoor exercise. This might not be the best environment for younger and older dogs because they are forced into an active environment with dogs of all breeds and sizes.
Neutral environments provide a chance to socialize with other dogs and people on their own terms.
How Long Does It Take To Socialize My Dog?
Your $64,000 question may be: “How long will it take to socialize my dog?”
You might have more luck asking if we are ever going to achieve world peace on our planet or whether meteorologists will truly ever be able to predict the weather 100% of the time.
Every breed is different, as well as every dog within a particular breed. There is no one-size-fits-all type of socialization training program. And a socialization program can often change as a trainer learns about a dog’s issues.
Dog Training Is A Marathon, Not A Sprint
It is the goal of dog training to get to the point where owners can take over working with their dogs alone. When socialization training becomes ingrained in a dog, then owners can continue following the program at home.
That doesn’t mean that a dog owner will never have contact with their dog trainer. If new behaviors or problem behaviors arise that change a dog’s daily routine (like a move to a new home, a baby or new pet arriving, or a new job), more work with a dog trainer may be necessary.
When you choose a professional to help with dog training lessons and training techniques, you enter into a partnership. As you depend on them to use their professional private training to create the socialization program, they will also count on you to continue your training at home with positive reinforcement, no matter how many dogs you may have.