When you think of socializing with your dog a lot of people think oh let’s go to a dog park. My dog can play and go crazy and get out all of that pent up energy, all while making new friends. NO! don’t go to a dog park, unless it’s empty!
I am not going to get into why I am not a dog park fan because that will be an entirely different post. But I will say this. Dog parks are filled with dogs from all walks of life. You and your dog know nothing about them, their history, their play style. Owners often can’t read body language and don’t know when their dog is bullying another, or when their dog is so terrified it can’t function properly. Then there is the owner whose dog is running amuck while they’re on their phone not paying attention to it jumping on people and humping other dogs. Dog parks are just a bad idea. Your dog will learn bad play habits, possibly start to develop fear aggression, and or be involved in a fight that they never recover from, or have to go through rehabilitation to overcome. Ok dog park rant over…..
Did you know that your dog can socialize without touching, playing, or butt-sniffing? In fact, playing and socializing are two completely different interaction when it comes to dog language.
Playing
When two dogs play together what they’re really doing is role-playing. They’re going back and forth between dominance and submission. If you watch two dogs play you can actually see it. For example dog A is chasing Dog B, it caches B and tackles it to the ground laying on top of him while mouthing his head. Then the dominant, Dog A pops up and takes off. The submissive one Dog B then jumps up and takes off after Dog A, catches him, tackles him, and then the roll flips. Dog B who was just submissive and on his back has his head mouthed is now on top of Dog A mouthing him. They go back and forth having brief moments of pauses in between, this pause is important because it means that the dogs are self-regulating their levels of arousal. A pause can be 1 second, 3 seconds, a play bow, or they stop and stare at one another with those crazy eyes before they slam into one another again. You see dog A and Dog B play bowing back and forth and practice chasing one another. That’s roll play. Yes, playing is a form of socialization, and dogs who know one another first often tend to play better than dogs who are complete strangers. I am not saying don’t let your dogs play, all I am saying is let them socialize in a controlled environment first and get to know one another, before setting them loose.
Think about it this way. We don’t meet a new person and then immediately start touch and telling them our deepest darkest secrets all while asking them to come over watch chick flicks, drink wine and talk about dogs. (Yes there are always times where these rules don’t apply) mainly because in some cases yes you do walk up to strangers and start touching and a friendship happens, there is normally alcohol involved. I’m not talking about those rare occasions, where you met your best friend in the bathroom asking for some toilet paper and reaching your hand under the stall. I’m talking about everyday normal occurrences.
Socialization
One of the best ways to introduce your dog to a new dog is by taking them on a walk and NOT letting them touch. You see dogs are amazing creatures I mean they can learn a lot about a dog just by sniffing their pee and using their nose. Something we as humans cant do. So socializing them without having the touch is natural to them. While going on a walk with a new dog, your dog will not only start to trust that new dog they will be able to read their body language, understand if they’re scared, happy, excited, or mad. Your dog will take in that new dog’s signals and immediately know if they like that dog or not. So while you think you’re just going on a casual walk. Your dog’s brain is on overdrive absorbing all this new information that the new dog is putting off. If you want your dog to make new friends this is the way to do it.
Dogs getting proper socialization while out on a structured walk
Dogs are a lot like people they just obviously communicate in different ways, and we as owners need to help let them communicate with one another in a safe and controlled environment because chances are your dog will not only make new friends but they will make new friends with the right dogs. They will make friends with the dogs that you already know. Dogs that you know will help teach your dog proper play styles, there will be no bullying and each dog will feel confident and happy not timid and scared.
Dogs will always be dogs they will try to adapt and adjust to whatever environment we expose them to. So it’s our job to expose them to the right environments where they will not only get mental and physical exercise but they will learn good manners and good proper socialization.
~D