Are you listening to your pup when socialising them?
As behaviourists we often refer to the critical socialisation periods for a dog and it is true to say that many of the issues we encounter are as a result of poor or a lack of socilalisation. The problem with socialisation, is not the process itself but people’s perception of socialisation A human’s perception of socialisation is seldom the same, so it is somewhat surprising that there are still many who believe that socialisition involves gathering many young dogs and allowing them to interact in an uncontrolled environment. Meeting people, other dogs and new things are important to an extent, but allowing a dog to approach any dog or person he/she meets, may not only lead to them making the wrong decisions about how to react, but also encourage bad manners, like jumping up or being over boisterous.
A dog’s natural instinct is to sit back and weigh up a situation, often using sight and smell. There can sometimes be a tendency for us as humans to be over-zealous and force our dogs into meeting other dogs or people, before they get the chance to use these natural instincts. This can have a twofold effect: for the confident dog, that is not encouraged to be patient and seek permission to approach other dog’s and people, it can become bad mannered, jump up at strangers and jump all over other dogs. This can, at best, be annoying and at worse, get the pup into trouble with other dogs and easily injured. For the nervous dog, who is not given the chance to evaluate, but is thrown into the cauldron by the over eager owner, it can develop fear aggression and reactivity towards both people and dogs. Flooding dogs like this, in an attempt to improve matters, often makes things worse and can lead to increased levels of aggression, especially as your dog becomes more anxious.
I see so many images on social media of young puppies being held by well meaning people (including veterinary staff), without considering the impact this may be having on the pup. The pup is often turning their head away, showing whale eye and is clearly tense and uncomfortable, but the handler is still intent on getting the cute little picture. Not so cute when pup grows up and starts to lunge and bark at everyone who goes near them and all as a result of the negativity experienced during these early encounters. I also send out a caveat to those taking part in large group gatherings for ‘social’ dog walks. Once again, the owners seem to be having a lovely time but one of the first things you should ask yourself before going on one of these walks is, does my dog enjoy being around other dogs? If the answer is no, I wouldn’t recommend using this as a means of trying to alleviate your dog’s anxiety, the likelihood is that it will make it worse, especially if the group is a large one and there are a number of boisterous dogs present.
When socialising your dog, allow the dog to dictate the situation and don’t try to force it. Here are a few helpful tips to assist you:
· Ensure your pup has an escape route from the situation- i.e. can they move freely away from the situation, even if that is behind your legs. Avoid luring them back with the lead, they’ll let you know if they are ready to approach, whatever the challenge is.
· Is the dog constantly trying to get away- if so it is likely that whatever you are trying to introduce them to is too overwhelming, take a few steps away and allow your pup time.
· Avoid using food to try and lure them towards the situation. Dogs can often be drawn into scary situations with food but once it stops are confronted with the situation head on, leading to a fear reaction. Food is great for training but not for bribing.
When socialising your pup try to provide it in the doses they require. If you are encouraged to socialise by turning up to a village hall and letting your pup loose amongst 10 or so other pups, then my advice would be to get back in the car and find a more organised, controlled group, or arrange it yourself. If you are uncertain about how to go about this, try to get some professional advice, most trainers are more than happy to give free advice over the phone.