When you bring a new dog home, you will need to take steps to socialize him. It is an ongoing effort over your dog's life and is a critical component of his development. A dog that hasn't been exposed to others (whether people or other dogs) poses a risk. Dogs can become uncomfortable or agitated quickly. Factors such as loud noises, other dogs, and even people wearing hats can cause your dog to become alarmed. In that state, they're unpredictable.
Eventually, you will want to take your dog with you to the park, beach, friend's house, or any place where others might be. Below, we will give you 3 quick tips for encouraging your dog to mingle well with others.
Tip #1: Obedience Class
Whether you are trying to socialize a puppy or a fully-grown adult dog, enroll him into an obedience class. He will be exposed to other people and dogs in a controlled environment. Plus, your dog will learn that others do not necessarily pose a threat to you. As a result, he will learn to remain relaxed in the presence of those who are unfamiliar to him. The earlier you do this, the better.
Tip #2: Inviting Friends Over
Invite 1 or 2 friends over to your house. This is an opportunity to socialize your dog in an uncontrolled environment (that is, without an obedience instructor). Over time, have other friends stop by. Ask them to do so in pairs, if possible, so your dog doesn't feel overwhelmed. By doing this, you continue the education process whereby your dog learns that people who are unfamiliar to him are typically non-threatening.
Tip #3: Training On The Go
Grab your dog's leash and take him for a walk. If possible, start in a sparsely populated area. A few people walking their dogs as cars race by can provide your dog with the loud stimuli he needs to grow accustomed to the noise and activity. As your dog grows more comfortable, take him for walks in more densely populated areas with more traffic. Doing this will desensitize his natural instinct to become alarmed.
Lifetime Socialization
By using the tips above, you can gradually transform your dog into a sociable pet that is friendly with others. If your dog resists the efforts by barking, sniffing, or jumping on people, try to react subtly and refocus his attention on you. Try to encourage him to focus on something other than that which prompted the undesirable behavior. Also, it is important that you reward your dog generously for good behavior. Over time, your dog will become the companion that you can take anywhere you go.
Dogs require exercise, discipline and affection, in that order. Notice that exercise is the most important requirement. If you're the type that has a hard time getting up before noon on days off and you don't like to get off the sofa too much, getting a dog probably isn't for you. Even small, indoor "lap" dogs need exercise and physical interaction. The key aspect here is that you need to actively interact with your dog and make certain that they are getting the exercise they deserve.
Many breeds need intense exercise. If your idea of exercise with your dog is a leisurely 10 minute walk, then a retriever for example, is definitely not for you. Retrievers are a breed that will require intense interaction with hikes in the woods, swimming, running and fetching. This breed will better suit people who love the outdoors and are quite active.
Something else that is very important to consider is that puppies up until two years of age will demand your constant attention and supervision. It's extremely similar to having a baby. You will have to plan to feed your puppy at regular intervals, clean up various messes, ensure that that they are given the opportunity to do their business, provide them with chew toys, get out of bed early on your days off, take them out in bad weather and so on. It's not that these are bad things, just part of the overall picture.
On an emotional level, you must realize this unavoidable truth. Dogs have a fairly short life span compared to humans. You will fall in love with your dog, become totally attached to him and one day have to say goodbye to him or make the impossible decision to end his life. This can be too much for some people to take. One way to look at it is the love you shared enriched both your lives so you were both better off because of your relationship.
In this day and age most of us haven't had a lot of experience in living with or raising animals. So you should be prepared to educate yourself regarding dog training by reading, attending classes and consulting trainers. There is no one absolute best method to train dogs but generally speaking, avoid methods that involve abuse like hitting, slapping or yelling at your puppy. Choose motivators such as praise, treats, or play instead. There are plenty of excellent trainers and training techniques out there that employ methods that will leave you with a fun-loving, well-adjusted, loving companion.
Dogs involve expenses. It's as simple as that. Everything from vet bills to dog food to toys to fencing in your yard will take money. Be prepared to make financial commitments.
Dogs require time. You will probably be spending a minimum of an hour a day interacting with your dog. Grooming, feeding, playing, training and exercising are just a part of this picture. You will need extra time to clean up after your pet and you will have to consider that leaving your dog at home alone for long periods will have a negative effect on him. Therefore you cannot just pop out to a movie or restaurant whenever you feel like it because you have obligations.
You must match your dog with your lifestyle. This point was touched on earlier. Research breeds before you make a decision. For example, if you know that cleaning up dog hair will drive you crazy, don't get a husky. Look at the amount of space you have in your home because some breeds require much more space than others. You must examine your situation and environment to discover what breed would be the most complimentary.
Last but certainly not least, getting a dog requires common sense. This common sense can be acquired through ongoing education, actively observing and interacting with your dog, maintaining vigilance and being observant. Being a dog owner means being responsible. A dog is not a toy that can be merely put on a shelf and brought out when you feel like playing with it. Dogs are social animals that need exercise, discipline and affection. Provide your dog these things and you will have a truly wonderful companion.
Both Lawrence J. Reaves & Michael Russell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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