Socializing Your Puppy

If you have a puppy or a fairly young dog, you are probably trying to find the best way to have them meet other dogs. The gains of socializing your dog early in their life are immense, but can backfire if the first interactions are not arranged properly.

If you check out this youtube video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnuBu2yocx8,you will see a young dog discovering the presence of an older, more mature dog at their backyard fenceline. The pup seems interested in playing at the fenceline, but after a few barks from the older dog, the pup runs away from the fence and onto the nearby deck.

The best idea in socializing a young dog with an unfamiliar mature dog is to meet at a neutral site away from home and do something that will reduce their focus on each other.

For example, consider walking the dogs together, but in a way that allows them to study each other in a way that each dog feels is secure. Try a walk where each leashed dog is on the outside edge during the walk, with each owner in between, so that it is dog-person-person-dog.

This walking order gives the dogs time to see and study each other, but not physically interact. When it seems they are growing more comfortable, the walking order would be changed so that it becomes dog-person-dog-person. They are a bit closer to each other, still learning about each other, but no one is at risk.

Continue on until it seems the dogs can be side by side. Next thing you know… they are friends!

Training is just a phonecall away!