How to Socialize a Dog With Other Dogs

Properly socializing your dog is extremely important for his social skills, temperament and overall well-being--especially if you plan to have more than one dog or live in a community where you will come across other dogs. You risk aggression and adverse reactions to other animals if you do not properly socialize your dog. Even a good tempered or docile dog can benefit from proper socialization. Here are tips to ensure a smooth interaction with other canines.

Things You'll Need

• Vaccinations
• Puppy class enrollment

Instructions

1. Enroll your dog in a puppy class at an early age. The only real requirement for these classes is that you have your dog vaccinated. In a class with a trained instructor, your dog will be able to interact with other dogs at an age before he reaches maturity and can still be effectively shaped to respond appropriately to other animals. He will learn how to better understand the communication signals of other dogs.

2. Make sure to listen closely and pay attention to what the instructor teaches in the class. You will want to understand the different way dogs communicate with each other so you can reinforce it. For instance, many owners try to prevent their pet from sniffing another dog’s backside, when in reality this is a polite way for a dog to say hello to another dog. The more you pay attention to your dog’s interactions, the more you will understand his specific communication signals so that you can know the difference between when your dog is happily playing versus when he may feel threatened by another dog.

3. Minimize your reactions around other dogs when you are with your dog. If you are tense or stressed by another dog, your dog will quickly notice and may follow suit. If another dog makes you uncomfortable, calmly separate yourself and your dog from the situation.

4. Encourage positive interactions with other dogs throughout your pet’s lifetime. Go to the dog park and give your dog opportunities to play and interact with other dogs. When you walk your dog, allow him to sniff and say hello to other dogs that pass by. Finally, consider puppy play classes that are available at local pet stores such as Pet Smart. You can enroll your dog after he completes his initial puppy class. This is a great way to allow your dog to socialize in a controlled environment.