Dogs Should Be Dogs

It’s easy to turn your dog into a family member and forget that despite her froo-froo dress up clothes and the fact she sleeps on your bed and sometimes shares your food, she’s still a dog.  It is vital to the health of your dogs physical and emotional state to remember that dogs must be treated as dogs. This means they must have to opportunity to hang out with their own kind.

Too often we bring home a new dog and welcome the puppy as a member of the family. But then the dog becomes a fixture of the home, and rarely sees people outside of the family except for the vet and groomer. While our pet may meet and get along with our friends who come to visit, she needs four-legged friends of her own and even if you have more than one dog she needs to socialize outside the house.

Is this really necessary? Yes, it is say the experts because dogs who are properly socialized early in their life tend to interact with others as friends, not foes. Dogs who are not permitted this needed connection are shown to be more aggressive.

Socializing a puppy is easy, although you should wait until she’s completed her puppy vaccines, including rabies, before taking her out into the world.  A young puppy may get overly excited at the prospect of making a new friend and her playful nature can go too far.  Just like children, they don’t know what a stranger is.

A walk in a community park, or if you are lucky enough to have one in your area, a dog park is always a good place to meet other puppies and their walkers.  Some well-planned dog parks even have special sections for small puppies to keep them safe from their bigger brothers. Talk to dog owners and see which dogs are most likely to accept your pup’s attempts at making friends, or find another puppy owner and let your little ones play.  If your dog gets along especially well with another dog there, then talk to the owner about arranging future play dates for your pets.

Alternatives to a dog park are walking trails, or even visiting a pet store that welcomes canine shoppers.  But regardless of the venue, don’t leave the leash at home. Some dogs don’t take kindly to the leash, although pups tend to be more accepting. Although it’s tempting to rush in for a pet, always ask permission before going up to another person’s dog.

Use these same guidelines for grown dogs as well. If your older pet gets too excited around strangers, then reconsider the dog park plan.  You might be better off trying a canine day care center or kennel that can offer supervised social interactions for Rover.  Look for a center that can train your dog to get over his apprehension. In extreme cases a trainer or dog behaviorist may be needed, but socializing your dog is worth the effort.

It means happier dog walks, easier trips to the vet, and if you decide to add another dog at some point, a smoother transition for both of you.

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