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All dogs need socialization time. Besides buying the right dog food and essential puppy supplies, setting up routine vet appointments, and training, socialization keeps dogs happy and helps them see the world as a safe place. It teaches a dog that new experiences, people, and animals are not scary.

No matter how old your dog is, there is always time to start socializing and continue into their later years. Here’s how to socialize your dog properly.

Socialization Isn’t Interaction

Socializing doesn’t always mean interaction. If a dog hesitates, forcing a situation can lead to a bad reaction. It’s better to focus on closeness.

For instance, if your dog doesn’t like being touched by men, have them sit in the same room with a calm man. Then, give your dog a treat. Socializing is just being around something and getting used to it.

Daily Walks

Taking your dog for a walk in a park or on the street helps them feel more at ease with their surroundings. During these outings, they might encounter other dogs or people. They also experience new sounds and smells, like cars passing by or the scent of a nearby garden.

Bring Them to Meet People

Socializing is about more than meeting other dogs. It’s about meeting people, too. Men, women, children, and people of all shapes and sizes can benefit from dogs. If you are the only person they ever see, a dog may become wary of anyone who isn’t you. By interacting with more people, your dog learns to be kind and accept various situations.

Don’t Force Them If They Are Scared

If your dog acts scared, don’t push. Stay calm and confident if your dog gets scared, and back away from the situation to somewhere your dog can regulate a bit. If your dog struggles with meeting others, you should train it with treats to develop a positive association with meeting new people and having new experiences.

Use Treats and Dog Food

Treat your pet to freeze dried dog food, cooked chicken, or something similar for every successful interaction with another dog or person. Be sure to count the calories while you’re doing this. However, treats are a great way to reinforce positive social behaviour for a dog struggling or unsure at first.

Take Them to the Dog Park

There are many ways to meet other dogs, but an easy one is to take them to the dog park. Depending on the day, they can meet dozens of dogs, but even one or two will do. Most dogs don’t have an issue with other pups, but if you aren’t sure, keep them leashed in such an environment before setting them off-leash.

Importance of Socializing a Puppy

Though socializing can start at any age, it’s ideal for a newborn puppy to socialize between three and 12 weeks. At this stage, puppies learn the behaviours they will carry with them later in life. A puppy who is not socialized during this time may develop fear at a neurological level and, in turn, act more cautious, nervous, and shy around people and animals.

What to Socialize With

Be sure to socialize your dog and expose them to new people, new materials and clothing, different environments, bodies of water, forest or wooded areas, different flooring and ground surfaces, cats, and other dogs. If you take them for a walk through your neighbourhood, have them investigate street signs, bicycles, strollers, skateboards, or benches. This is all to educate your dog on the environment around them for comfort and safety.

Follow Your Dog’s Cues

Your dog may get burned out at a certain point with socialization if you do too much of it in a single go. Follow their cues. It may be time to call it a day if they’re getting agitated when encountering people or other animals. It’s better to socialize in small spurts rather than cram too much in at once and have your dog grow resentful.

Eating From Their Food Bowl

There are little tips and tricks for socializing a dog that can help when they are around other animals. Teach your pup to eat from their food bowl. This will teach them not to act aggressively if another dog approaches while they eat treats or kibble. Especially with rescue dogs, when dog food is in the mix, they can become aggressive when they may not naturally be.