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Socializing Your Puppy or Adult Dog

How does your dog act toward 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...

Your dog's 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 tend to act in that manner. For example, most Golden Retrievers inherit genes for friendliness, most Chihuahuas inherit genes for suspiciousness, and most hounds, terriers, and northern (spitz) breeds inherit genes for predatory or chasing instincts toward other animals that run.

Your dog's 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 your dog lived with his mother and siblings

During the first 7 weeks of his life, a puppy's mother and siblings are supposed to teach him important canine social signals such as bite inhibition, where they correct him firmly if he plays too rough. Thus, puppies who are removed from their litter before 7 weeks old miss these early lessons and often turn out nippy and resistant to being handled by people, 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.

Your dog's 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 end up perpetually 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. The most critical period in a dog's life, psychologically, is his first six months, and especially the narrow window between 7 weeks old and 16 weeks old. You must introduce your puppy to the concept of strangers and other animals during this critical period...

...and you need to do it carefully, in a safe and controlled setting, monitoring your puppy's reactions and responding accordingly, so that he learns how to behave. This critical period comes only once in your dog's life, so it's important to get it right!
ADOLESCENT socialization is next in importance. 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, with a teenage dog's attitude toward strangers and other dogs often changing from week to week, from friendly to suddenly fearful or aggressive. HOW you handle these fluctuating reactions is very important!
ADULT socialization may be too late to change your dog's attitude toward people and other animals. In other words, if he is timid or shy or suspicious, he may always feel that way.

But socialization, even at this late date, can still change his BEHAVIOR toward people and other animals. You can teach him to stand quietly and ACCEPT people and other dogs (even if he doesn't particularly like them) without growling or bolting away.

If you'd like some help socializing your puppy. . .

In my dog training book, Teach Your Dog 100 English Words, I'll show you how to socialize your dog with strangers, children, and other pets. I'll tell you where to take your dog to socialize him, and how to respond if he acts fearfully or aggressively.

Available exclusively from my website – as a printed book or an instant-download ebook.

Learn more about Teach Your Dog 100 English Words!

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