Socialization means to be comfortable and accepting of the culture and behaviors of a certain community.  For our dogs, this means the human community.  Our dogs no longer live in the wild with their well-understood rules of pack life and how to survive.  So they must be taught or socialized in the ways of the humans.  This includes human behaviors, sounds, sights, textures; everything in our modern world.  It is our responsibility to socialize our dogs so that they may feel comfortable, safe, and confident in our world.

Many of us have heard of someone who was bitten by a dog while reaching his or her hand out to pet it.  Or the rescue dog that cowers at the sight of a broom or maybe a bearded man.  It is probable that these dogs are not innately aggressive or even the victims of prior abuse.  Most likely, these behaviors are a result of poor socialization.  The outstretched hand, the broom, the bearded man; all are simply unfamiliar to the dog.   It is a dog’s survival instinct to view the unfamiliar as a potential threat until they have had a number of positive experiences to prove otherwise.  When your dog is faced with the unfamiliar and feels threatened rather than curious it is natural for the dog to employ aggression to make the scary thing go away.

The puppy socialization period is generally thought of as between three weeks of age and twelve weeks of age.  At this time of a puppy’s life they have a natural curiosity and will approach and investigate a great deal.  They are also learning to form social relationships both with their littermates and with humans.  In terms of the development of desired behaviors and a good temperament, this is the most influential period in a dog’s life.  The experiences your dog has during this time will affect him for the rest of his life.  It’s up to you to make sure that these experiences are positive.  While the earlier weeks are very, very important to proper socialization, don’t think that you should stop there!  Your puppy will need your guidance well through his first year.  And, while I’m talking a lot about puppies here, the reality is that many of us have older dogs that were not well socialized.  You can still socialize your adult dog as you would a puppy but bear in mind that there may be situations in which an older dog has developed a negative association. These situations must be handled more delicately and will take more time.  You may find it prudent to use an experienced dog trainer.

As mentioned earlier, dog socialization is getting your dog comfortable with the environment in which he or she lives.  We must expose them in a safe, encouraging, and fun way to the many experiences they will have in their lifetime.  Some of these experiences we will take for granted but let’s remember that a puppy doesn’t know anything yet and doesn’t know that we are there to protect them.  Some of the things a dog may find scary are different walking surfaces, unfamiliar sounds, people, clothing, behaviors, objects, other dogs, and other animals.

Here are a few examples to get you thinking about how your dog may be seeing the world:

            Walking surfaces:  hardwood floors, gravel, grass, snow, ice, tall grass, wooded areas, beaches, sewer grates, decking, metal, water, rocks

            Sounds:  cheering crowds, fireworks, music, babies crying, children playing, clapping, doorbells, traffic, other dogs barking, thunder

            People:  women, men, adults, children, facial hair, big hair, glasses, skin color, laughing, shouting, dancing, wrestling, running

            Clothing:  hats, hoods, scarves, mittens, big bulky jackets, backpacks

            Behaviors toward dogs:  petting, hugging, patting, playing with ears or tail, nail clipping, brushing

            Objects:  noisy appliances, brooms, umbrellas, trash bags, dog crate, leashes

So with all of these things in mind that could pose a problem for your dog you’re probably wondering just what it is that you can do to properly socialize your dog.  If you follow these basic rules and ensure that the majority of experiences your dog has are positive then you will likely have a happy dog with a healthy mental outlook: 

Never force or even cajole your dog to approach something of which he is unsure.  Let your puppy determine when and how he will approach the situation.

Make sure that the experience will be safe and pleasant for your dog.  For example, if you are exposing your puppy to children who are playing loudly, keep your dog at a distance.  You could give him a couple of treats so he will make a positive association with the experience.  Let him wander over to explore only when he is ready.

There will be times when a new experience goes badly.  Your job in this instance is to stay calm and neutral.  You should not run to his side in order to tell him everything will be all right!  This will erode his confidence.  Instead, make sure you get many more positive experiences in order to make up for this bad one.  Always use a happy, playful voice to let your dog know that it is ok.

Another great way to enhance your dog’s socialization is to join a puppy or dog playtime class.  A good trainer will help you with any problems you may be encountering and give you many tips on socialization opportunities.