Socializing Dogs to Places
Puppies and dogs who have never been to places other than
their homes can become unable to cope with going anyplace. This becomes a
serious problem when the dog needs to go to the veterinarian’s office, to a
specialist, or out for any other reason. Socializing to places is essential for
a dog’s mental health and for physical well-being, too.
Consult your veterinarian about what places are safe to take
your puppy or dog. A puppy whose vaccinations are not yet complete or a dog with
medical problems can be at high risk of catching a disease from going where
other dogs have been. Some dogs pose more risk than others. Your veterinarian
will know what diseases are going around among the dogs in your community at
any given time.
Foundation Work
An orderly training class is an excellent idea for most dogs
as part of their experience with places outside the home. In class you have the
help of an instructor to coach you on handling your pup and also to help set up
situations that will help your pup form positive beliefs about going places.
Hopefully within a few sessions, you’ll see your pup eager to enter the class
area.
A dog needs to be healthy before starting class, and ready
for outings that last longer than an hour. Your pup’s first outings should
probably be shorter than this. Short and sweet – the goal is to make each
outing a positive experience for your dog.
Even if it’s a big effort to get your dog to the place
you’re going for the outing, and you have to rearrange your schedule to do it,
resist the urge to make the outing long. Don’t try to turn what should be two
or three or four outings into just one! What your dog needs is to go there
multiple times and find out that each time is good. All-in-one doesn’t work
nearly as well.
Take your dog to a wide variety of places with a multiple
characteristics. Try to notice what things your dog notices, and to make these
things pleasant for the dog. Look for places that expand your dog’s
experiences. Here are some things to think about in choosing places to work
with your dog:
·
Outdoors
·
Indoors
·
Wide-open spaces
·
Closed spaces
·
Other dogs present
·
No other dogs present
·
People present
·
No people present
·
Few others there, and others appearing
unexpectedly
·
Raining
·
Snow on the ground
·
Hot weather (take precautions to keep your dog
safe from overheating)
·
Night time
·
Lots of noise
·
Very quiet
·
Strong smells
Include trips to the veterinarian’s office in your outings.
Be sure to check with the office about the times to come when you won’t be
disrupting their routine. Several short trips to the office for a few treats
and then on your way can make a huge difference in your dog’s stress level when
it’s time for veterinary treatment.
Make going places more appealing to your dog by putting rewards into
the trip out and the time spent at the location. Avoid rewards on the
way home or after returning home, because rewarding then can cause the dog to
want to get home quickly.
Good rewards will be whatever things your dog likes. These
could include praise, petting, food rewards, games and time to play with
favorite toys. This is a good time to use the toys your dog can only have when
supervised. Such toys will tend to stay special to the dog and have a high
reward value.
If your dog is timid or reluctant about places, it can help
to go along with another person handling a confident dog your dog likes. Choose
a dog who reduces your dog’s stress and who likes going to the place you’re
going. Dogs will pick up positive attitudes from each other. But they
will pick up negative attitudes, too, so avoid taking your inexperienced or
unsure dog out with a dog who does not like going to that place.
Act confident and calm yourself, and be a good leader to
your dog. Use the training skills that the two of you are working on together.
If your dog is not ready to listen to you in a highly distracting situation,
pick a quiet part of the outing to practice the training. As you practice in
more and more distracting situations, your dog’s ability will gradually
improve. The maturing process helps, too.
If riding in a car makes your dog sick, take that into
consideration. Work on the carsickness just as you work on any other aversion
your dog has, gradually and with rewards. Try to separate socialization to
places with any car rides that would make your dog arrive sick in the new
place!
The Fearful Dog
If your dog has missed early socialization to places, you
can still improve things. The same principles apply, and it’s not really
possible to predict how much progress the dog might make and how long it might
take to see improvement.
The ability to cope with novel situations is both taught and
inherited. Some puppies with the best early socialization may still be lifelong
homebodies and always somewhat reluctant to go places. These are the dogs who
would have serious problems without early socialization to places.
Some dogs who have missed out on early socialization and
have never been anywhere will come around nicely when given good, positive
socialization to places. A complicated combination of traits determines a dog’s
ability to cope. Steady nerves, just as one example, come from genetics; a
mother dog with steady nerves and early handling of the puppies can instill the
belief that the world is a safe place.
If your dog shows severe fears about going out, or behaves
aggressively toward other dogs or humans on outings, get expert help in person.
Your veterinarian can help you find a veterinary behavior specialist or other
expert to help you work safely with your dog. Every time the dog acts out
dangerous or seriously fearful behavior, that behavior becomes a stronger
habit, so get help promptly.
Taking your dog on outings not only helps the dog learn to
cope with a variety of places, but it also strengthens your bond with your dog.
Training benefits by working in a variety of places, too. Whenever you take
your dog out, keep in mind the goal of helping your dog learn to enjoy going
new places. You will be amazed at the benefits from these happy outings.
