Socializing Your Puppy or Adult Dog
By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2010
How does your dog act with strangers?
- Some dogs love everybody. My own dog, Buffy, "never met a stranger." By that I mean she treats everyone like a long-lost friend -- even people she's never met!
- Some dogs are fine with their own family (and perhaps a few family friends), but aren't keen on strangers.
- Some dogs are fine with people of one sex -- but not the other sex.
- Some dogs are fine with adults -- but not with children. (A few dogs are the opposite -- they're fond of kids, but wary of adults.)
Some dogs are suspicious of certain physical features. For example, a floppy hat, or dark sunglasses, or a beard, or a uniform, might set off warning bells in some dogs. A few dogs are so observant they may even notice a person's skin color and react suspiciously if it's not what they're used to.- Some dogs dislike ALL strangers.
- And some dogs basically ignore strangers -- their motto seems to be: "Live and let live."
How does your dog act with other dogs?
- Some dogs are friendly with virtually every other dog.
- Some dogs are good with other dogs they know well -- but not with strange dogs.
- Some dogs are good with dogs of the opposite sex -- but not the same sex.
- Some dogs are tolerant with puppies -- but not with other adult dogs.
- Some dogs are fussy about the SIZE of the other dog. They may dislike dogs larger than themselves. Or they may dislike dogs smaller than themselves.
Some dogs are fussy about the BREED of the other dog. They may be fine with their own breed, but dislike other breeds. Or they may be fine with other breeds, but not with their own!- Some dogs are aggressive or timid with virtually every other dog.
- And some dogs just ignore other dogs.
Your dog's attitude toward people and other dogs comes from...
- His breed
- In some breeds, the GENES for temperament traits are so strong and so prevalent throughout the breed that most individuals in that breed inherit those genes and act in that manner. For example, most Golden Retrievers inherit genes for friendliness toward everyone. Most Chihuahuas inherit genes for suspiciousness toward strangers and larger dogs. Most terriers and sighthounds inherit chasing instincts toward other animals that run.
- His parents
- If your dog's parents had a particular attitude toward people and other dogs, your dog will inherit THEIR genes and will probably mimic THEIR behavior. So, for example, if your dog's breed is usually friendly, but his particular parents were suspicious, he may well be suspicious, too.
- How long he lived with his mother and siblings
- During the first seven weeks of life, a puppy's mother and siblings teach him important canine social signals such as bite inhibition, where they correct him firmly if he plays too rough. Puppies who are brought home at 5 or 6 weeks old very often turn out to be mouthy, nippy, and resistant to being handled, or aggressive or fearful with other dogs. On the flip side, if a puppy lives with his mother or siblings for more than 12 weeks, his position in the pecking order may be so established that he will always be inclined to be too pushy (if he was at the top) or too submissive (if he was at the bottom) toward people or other dogs.
- His early experiences
- A puppy who was frightened by another person or dog early in his life, or who acted inappropriately toward other people or dogs and wasn't properly corrected, may always turn out to be aggressive or fearful.
- How well you socialize him once you bring him home
- Socializing means teaching your dog to get alone with strangers, children, other dogs, cats, other pets, and the big wide world in general.
- Puppy socialization has the most dramatic effect on how your dog turns out. You must get your puppy out into the world between 7 weeks old and 6 months old.
Adolescent socialization is also critical. Adolescence begins between 6 and 9 months old, and ends between 1 and 3 years old. Larger breeds have the longest adolescent periods. Just as in people, adolescence in dogs can be an awkward time of change and upheaval. A teenage dog's attitude toward strangers and other dogs may change from week to week, even from day to day.- Adult socialization may be too late to change your dog's attitude toward people and other animals, but it can control his behavior so that he doesn't ACT on his feelings.
The moral is this: You can't change your dog's breed. You can't change the genes he inherited from his parents. You can't put him back with his mother and siblings for that critical seven week period. You can't undo negative experiences that occurred before you got him.
What you CAN do is socialize him properly,
now that you have him.
Everything you need to know about socializing your dog
 "My step by step dog training program shows you how to improve your dog's behavior by teaching him vocabulary words, sensible rules, and consistent routines."
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In my dog training program, Teach Your Dog 100 English Words, I'll show you how to socialize your dog with strangers, children, and other pets.
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Copyright © 2000-2010 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved.
No part of this website may be copied, displayed on another website,
or distributed in any way without the express permission of the author.