Dog Socialization: An Important Part of Dog Training

If owners don't actively plan for dog socialization in their routines, they are simply missing a key component of dog training. Socialization starts with puppies interacting with their littermates and mothers and will continue throughout the life of the dog. From Mom and the rest of the litter puppies learn important social activities such as basic hygiene and bite inhibition as well as how to respond to other dogs. Breeders are the first step in dog training and good breeders will handle the puppies, let them interact with a limited number of other people and even expose them to different sounds and activities to start the socialization process. Continuing on with this aspect of dog training is one of the major components of being a responsible dog owner. Providing opportunities for dog socialization is not really difficult, even if you aren't always out and about with your dog.

 Socialization Around The Home

Dogs do need to be socialized outside of their own environment, but you can also do some socialization in your own home. If you have other pets such as other dogs, cats or even other domestic animals you can carefully and positively introduce your new dog or puppy to the animals, providing routine socialization. Be sure to do this slowly and with both animals under control, calm and not frightened or aggressive about the interaction. Socializing puppies with other animals is often much easier than working with mature dogs, but both will greatly benefit from this interaction.

Another way to provide socialization is to allow your puppy or dog to interact with visitors to the house. Many owners fall into the trap of crating their dog or putting their dog in another room to avoid him or her jumping up on visitors, causing a nuisance or excessive barking when company arrives. When this happens the nuisance behavior will get worse - not better. Training your dog to sit and stay and then working with the dog with company that understands what you are doing can really help in socializing and correcting these behaviors as part of your dog training program.

Dog Training Out Of The House

Dog socialization is essential out of the house, simply because there are a lot more variables in the environment outside of the dog's familiar zones or areas. Taking your dog for rides in your car, walks around the neighborhood and runs through the park are all great ways to provide socialization with different people, pets and places. Off leash dog areas may also be a good place to socialize your dog, as are obedience classes and puppy classes. If you are allowing your dog or puppy in an off leash area be sure to check the behavior of other dogs, these areas are use at your own risk and not all dog owners are responsible.

Dogs that are socialized as part of their ongoing dog training program are more relaxed and accepting of new situations, people and events. Dog socialization really does need to be a focal point of dog training programs and need to be started as early as possible to be successful.