What's The Best Way to Socialise My Dog?

Socialising your dog is essential for their well-being and behaviour around people, animals, and various environments. Here are some of the best ways to socialise your dog:

PEOPLE:

E.g. Children, Adults, Wheelchair users, joggers, crowds, cyclists, people during the night, people in uniform/dark clothing, delivery men.

Children: Start with calm, supervised interactions with well-behaved children. Teach both the dog and children appropriate behavior and gentle petting.

Adults: Introduce your dog to adults of different ages and appearances in various settings. Encourage polite greetings and interactions.

Wheelchair Users: Familiarise your dog with wheelchair users by approaching slowly, allowing sniffing, and rewarding calm behaviour. Ask the person if they would feel comfortable giving your dog a treat.

Joggers + Cyclists: Gradually expose your dog to joggers by starting at a distance and rewarding calm behaviour. Teach them not to chase or bark. Setting up scenarios with friends and family can be helpful.

Crowds: Begin with quiet crowds and gradually increase exposure to busier areas. Use treats to reinforce positive behaviour and provide a safe retreat if needed.

People During the Night: Schedule walks during quieter times to expose your dog to people at night. Reward calm behaviour and use gentle encouragement. Setting up scenarios with friends and family can be helpful.

People in Uniform/Dark Clothing: Introduce your dog to individuals wearing uniforms or dark clothing in calm settings. Use positive reinforcement and treats to associate these outfits with positive experiences.

Delivery Men: Familiarise your dog with delivery men by starting with brief, positive encounters. Reward calm behaviour and provide treats to create a positive association.

HANDLING:

E.g. Brushing, Cutting Nails, Tail Lifted, Ears and Mouth Checks, Being picked up and carried, bathed, towel dried, teeth brushed

Brushing: Start with short sessions using a soft brush. Use treats and praise to make brushing a positive experience. Gradually increase the duration as your dog becomes more comfortable.

Cutting Nails: Begin by handling your dog's paws gently. Introduce the sound of nail clippers or grinder gradually. Reward calm behaviour and start with short trimming sessions.

Tail Lifted: Lift your dog's tail gently during petting sessions. Use treats to create positive associations with this handling.

Ears and Mouth Checks: Regularly touch and inspect your dog's ears and mouth. Use treats and praise to make this a comfortable experience.

Being Picked up and Carried: Lift and carry your dog for short distances at home. Use gentle handling and rewards to help them feel secure.

Bathed: Introduce baths gradually using lukewarm water and dog-friendly shampoo. Offer treats and praise throughout the bath to keep them calm.

Towel Dried: Pat your dog gently with a towel after a bath or when wet. Use treats to reinforce calm behaviour during drying.

Teeth Brushed: Start with a dog-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste. Gradually introduce brushing motions and reward your dog for cooperation.

SOUNDS:

E.g. Sirens, Fireworks, Motorbikes, TV/Music, Alarms/Doorbell, Vacuum, Lawnmower, Thunder

Sounds can be successfully socialised using recordings at a low volume. Gradually increase the volume while offering treats and praise to create positive associations.

We can also teach our dog how to appropriately respond when the door bell rings by teaching them a solid 'place/bed' command. You can proof this and test it at home by setting up scenarios. This could be opening the door acting excited, ringing the doorbell, opening the door and closing it, and anything else that may seem appropriate for your living situation.

PLACES:

E.g. Vet, Groomers, Car Ride, Lifts/Escalators, Bridges, Night-time, Friends Houses, Restaurants, Shopping Centres, City/Town.

Vet/Groomers: Visit the vet outside of appointments to practice basic training in the waiting room, using treats to build positive associations. Practice handling techniques outside of the vets like lifting tails, touching feet ect. at home so these practices aren't new to your dog - even ask friends or family to get involved!

Car Ride: Practice getting in and out of the car using their food to lure them up, or pick them up to avoid damage to joints from jumping down from heights. Keep car rides short at first, building duration over time. Bring natural chews or enrichment toys to keep them busy.

Lifts/Escalators: Introduce your dog to lifts and escalators gradually. Use treats and patience to help them feel comfortable with these movements. Be aware of their paws/tail at all times.

Bridges: Walk your dog across bridges at quiet times. Reward calm behaviour and gradually introduce them to different bridge environments. If they act fearful, run them across it first a few times before walking at a normal pace.

Night-time: Dogs naturally can be more on edge during the night. Take evening walks in familiar, well-lit areas, slowly decreasing light levels every time. Use treats to reinforce positive behaviour and help your dog feel secure during night-time outings.

Friends' Houses: Arrange visits to friends' homes with calm, friendly dogs. Use treats and supervision to ensure positive interactions. Avoid potential arguments between dogs by keeping your dog on a lead, avoid feeding dogs together if you can't supervise.

Restaurants: Visit dog-friendly restaurants during quiet times. Reward your dog for calm behaviour and teach them to settle quietly.

Shopping Centres: Visit shopping centres during quieter periods. Reward your dog for calm behaviour and gradually expose them to busier areas.

City/Town: Walk your dog in urban areas with varied sights and sounds. Use treats and positive reinforcement to help them feel comfortable in bustling environments.

ANIMALS:

Animals in the home: Supervision is always required. Create positive interactions and keep sessions short to avoid over-stimulation. Keeping your dog on a lead is a perfect safety measure.

Farm animals: Allow your dog to observe from a distance, keeping them on a lead at all times. Practice and proof general obedience and recall around them.