7 Reasons Why It’s Important to Properly Socialize Your Dog
As a dog owner, it’s your responsibility to turn your wily little puppy into a well-behaved and obedient adult dog. But socialization is about more than just making sure your dog greets your house guests without knocking them over in excitement; it’s also crucial for his mental and emotional wellbeing. Here are the top seven reasons why it is important to socialize your dog – especially from a young age.
- Puppies are highly impressionable. Dogs are most impressionable as puppies, particularly during their first three to six months of life. Early socialization has the greatest effect on a puppy and it can shape him into who he will be as an adult.
- Reducing fear and anxiety. At its most basic level, socializing your puppy simply involves exposing him to new things. For a puppy, the entire world is new but it is also exciting. For an adult dog, new experiences can be frightening. If you socialize your puppy while he is still young, he’ll learn to enjoy new experiences and will handle them calmly. If you don’t socialize your dog he may be fearful of new people and frightened by unfamiliar situations.
Related: Teach Your Dog Some Class In Puppy Kindergarten
- Better veterinary exams. Going to the vet can be a little frightening for a dog, especially the first few times, but it shouldn’t be a traumatic experience. Making sure that your puppy has his first vet visit early on will make all of your future vet visits less stressful.
- More options for exercise. If your dog isn’t properly socialized, he may be fearful of places or situations where he might encounter other dogs, like the dog park. This fear can severely limit your options for exercise and if your dog doesn’t get enough exercise, it could have a seriously detrimental effect on his health.
Related: The Emily Post Guide To Proper Dog Park Etiquette
- Less stress at the groomer. If your dog has a long or curly coat, regular grooming sessions may be necessary. Taking your puppy in for his first grooming visit while he is young will help to make sure that he gets used to things like having his nails trimmed, his coat brushed, and taking a bath.
- Reduced dog aggression. Some dogs are simply more dog-friendly than others, but socialization plays a major role in determining how your dog will react to and interact with dogs he doesn’t know. While taking a brand-new puppy to the dog park isn’t a good idea, making sure that your puppy meets and forms positive relationships with other dogs while young can reduce the risk for dog aggression later.
- Less stressful travel and car trips. Many dogs love to ride in the car, though some are terrified of car trips because they associate them with visits to the vet. If you get your puppy used to riding in the car from a young age, you will find it much easier to take him on car trips and you may even be able to travel with him.
Socialization is incredibly important for a dog and, luckily, it is also easy to do. All you really need to do is expose your puppy to as many new people, places, and things as possible during his first six months of life. If you do, you will find that he grows up to be a well-adjusted adult who views the world with excitement rather than fear.
Kate Barrington is the loving owner of two cats (Bagel and Munchkin) and a noisy herd of guinea pigs. Having grown up with golden retrievers, Kate has a great deal of experience with dogs but labels herself a lover of all pets. Having received a Bachelor's degree in English, Kate has combined her love for pets and her passion for writing to create her own freelance writing business, specializing in the pet niche.
More by Kate Barrington