Great Tips That Can Easily Make Your Dog Social

Great Tips That Can Easily Make Your Dog Social

Humans are social animals. However, this is not true for all dogs. Dogs require special socialization training to make them friendlier. When you bring a puppy home, it has no idea about humans and human interactions. It runs on its basic instincts. Socialization is all about refining them and making them gel with other humans.
Socialization also makes dogs friendlier with other animals. If you already have a furry friend at home, socializing it will make it easier for the next pet to live with it. If you are looking for a pet hostel in Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, or wherever you live, it is always better to send a socialized dog. This will ensure its safety and keep everyone around your furry friend safe.
If you are planning to buy a dog and are worried about its socialization, here are a few tips that can help you make it more social:

Start As Early As Possible

A major reason why puppies are costlier than adult dogs is that they are easier to train, leading to a greater demand. Start training your furry friend as early as possible. The best time for this is when your dog turns three weeks old.
You can slowly socialize your puppy and see how well-mannered it becomes after getting older. Expose them to different people, animals, and experiences to familiarize them with them.
However, you need not worry if you have purchased an older dog. It is not impossible to socialize them. While it is challenging, you can definitely succeed in the process with patience and consistency.

Focus On Dog-to-Dog Introductions

Especially if you are planning to bring another dog home, you should thoroughly train your existing furry friend. Dog-to-dog introductions can make your dog familiar and comfortable with other canine buddies.
Start slow, keep both dogs on leashes, and make them get used to each other’s presence. However, you should be extra careful during the process, as a single negative encounter can backfire.
Choose a friendly dog breed to introduce your furry friend. Take both parties to a neutral zone, like a garden, to make them both comfortable. Observe your dog carefully and notice all changes in its body language. You will see that it will slowly get more comfortable with the other dog.

Exposing To People And Environments

This is the most important aspect of socializing your dog. You wouldn’t want your family members or friends to be scared of your furry friend. For this, you will need to expose your dog to different people and situations.
Focus on exposing your furry friend to people of all ages and genders. Make them meet people with sunglasses, hats, uniforms, wheelchairs, etc. The goal here is to prevent your dog from feeling unfamiliar around anyone, making them aggressive and defensive.
Along with people, your dog should also be exposed to different environments. Take your furry friend to the beach, park, pet store, café, restaurant, and other places to familiarize it with them.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is the most effective way to provide any training to your dog. Give your pet its favorite treat whenever it follows your command. After a few times, it will start obeying you without asking for the treat.
Positive reinforcement helps you teach your dog important commands like “sit,” “stop,” “stay,” and many more. These commands are critical to make your dog social and have control over it.

Do Not Lose Hope

Finally, the most important socialization tip to keep in mind is that you should stay consistent. Be patient and observe the progress your dog makes. If it is older, it will take some time to follow your commands.
Moreover, not all dogs take the same amount of time to become social. If things are getting difficult, you can always hire a professional trainer to socialize your furry friend.

The Final Word

Making your dog social leads to a friendly relationship with everyone. Ensure that your canine buddy interacts positively with other humans and animals. Take it slow, do not force your dog, and appreciate the little progress it makes while following your commands.