Nicole Cardiff - Candid Expressions

If you are a dog owner, then you may have read countless articles and talked to a number of owners about the importance of socializing your pet to other animals.  There are a multitude of benefits associated with socialization.  Many owners say that socialization is not an option but, instead, a requirement.  It’s great if your dog loves other dogs, but it’s not always that straightforward.  The truth is that some dogs just don’t care to get to know others.  How do you know what’s right for your pooch?  The best thing you can do is to pay attention to his actions and evaluate your individual situation.

In the past years, people have worked hard to domesticate canines.  We’ve turned a once-pack-animal into a loving lap dog.  Now, we change our minds and think, “Wait.  Our dog needs to have other dog friends.”  Then, we rush out to the pet store, purchase a fancy leash, and drag our dogs to multiple dog parks and daycares.  In the course of these activities, have any of us thought about what the dog wants?  We want him to be a house companion, and then suddenly think he should join a pack.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  Socialization is not a bad thing.  But, it can be unnecessary.  If your dog stays close to you and you don’t venture out into dog-saturated territories, then why does it matter if he likes other pets?  Unless he is meeting other dogs or going out into public places, then he doesn’t necessarily have to like other animals.  The truth is many of our pets spend their entire lives in our homes and neighborhoods, never venturing outside the territory.  You may resort to the idea that something like a doggy daycare is great for your pooch, since you don’t get to spend all day with him.  This may be true for some pets but not all.  There are ways to decide if your pet needs socialization training, but it deals with his needs over your needs.

There are times when socialization is completely in order.  If your dog spends time at a dog park or if he accompanies you outside of the home, then socialization is a good safety net.  Even though problems can still arise between completely socialized animals, one that is accustomed to being in the company of others is less likely to start a fight every time another comes around.  If your pet has shown aggressive behaviors in the past, then this also flags a need for socialization.  An overly aggressive dog can be a big problem, especially if he spends time around other pets.

So, how do you determine if your pet really needs to be socialized?  The easiest way to find out is to put him in a social situation.  The following suggestion is not intended for dogs that are already aggressive towards other animals; you should never put yourself or your dog in danger.  Find a park in your area that allows dogs on leashes or set up a play date with a neighborhood dog.  Having your pooch on a leash during the test is important, because it gives you better control over him.  If you venture into an off-leash dog park and your dog has never been introduced to such a situation, then you may find yourself in a big mess.  Take your dog to the park or the neighbor’s house and watch how he interacts with the other animals.  Does he enjoy the company, or does he seem bored?  Is he interacting with the other pets or simply doing his own thing?  Does he even care to leave your side?  Knowing how your dog feels about other animals can help you determine exactly how much socialization he needs.  If he doesn’t enjoy the company, then there is no reason to drag him to a dog park or a doggy day care.  Just like humans, some dogs simply don’t want (or care) to leave their comfort zones.

Socializing a pet is not a bad idea; but, in some cases, it is unnecessary.  Each dog is different than the others, and some dogs just may not enjoy the company of other animals.  Whether you put your pet through socialization training is up to you.  But before you leave him at a doggy daycare for hours at a time, ask yourself, “Does my dog actually enjoy the daycare?”

This article was written by pet-super-store.com an online pet website featuring dog car seat covers and dog doors.