subject: The Easy Way To Socialize A Dog [print this page] Dog owners that have taken time to properly socialize a dog will have a pet that adapts to any situation and gets along well with people and other animals. By socializing the pet an owner is assured to have an ideal and well behaved companion for life. Proper socialization prevents the development of unwanted behavior and turns the dog into a happy and well behaved member of the family. A first time dog owner may have heard about the necessity to socialize the pet, of the benefits of socialization but how is a dog socialized.
In spite of the fact that dogs are acclaimed to be social creatures, some individuals would not interact well with people and with other animals as dogs too have different personalities. Shy or nervous dogs will react either with fear or with aggression to unfamiliar faces or to new situations. A dominant one would try to control not only other animals but humans as well. A dog owner's responsibility to the pet is more than providing the dog with its basic needs. It is the responsibility of the pet owner to ensure that the pet is properly socialized so that it will grow into a well adjusted pet that can adapt to any situation and can interact with people and animals.
Socialization must take place when the puppy is between 8 to 16 weeks old. This does not mean that it is futile to socialize older dogs. However, socializing an older dog would require more patience and persistence. Socializing puppies would be easier as apart from having a curious nature; puppies have not yet formed hard to break habits.
Introduce the puppy to everything that it will be exposed to as soon as the OK of the vet is received. Grooming will get the dog accustomed to being touched. These handling exercises will prepare the dog so that it will not react aggressively to being touched by the vet, by a child in the park or by a neighbor or a guest in the future.
Let the pet mingle with other dogs by taking the dog to the local dog park or enrolling the pet to an obedience class. Introduction to people and animals as well as exposure to varied situations will socialize the dog. A puppy would be more manageable so you can take the pet to the mall, to the pet supply store or to the neighbor's. Entice the dog to respond well to socialization by using treats as rewards. These socialization efforts will develop the puppy into a well adjusted mature dog.
by: Jerry Welsh
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