Good Reasons to Socialize
When you have a child, you have a responsibility to introduce him or her to a wide range of people and experiences to better prepare them for the world. The same is true when you have a puppy or dog. This process is known as socialization. Let’s look at some of the reasons why it’s so important and how you can be sure to properly socialize your canine companion.
If you’ve seen aggressive dogs before, you’ve also seen the consequences of poor socialization. When dogs haven’t been introduced to these new experiences, they become fearful and anxious when encountering them. Just think of how you felt on the very first day you ever worked at a job or the first day you went to school.
Socialization, therefore, helps make dogs more comfortable when they have these experiences, such as meeting a new dog, being petted by children or riding in the car. Positive early experiences are the best way to prevent future anxiety and aggression problems in your dog.
The bottom line is that thorough socialization does take a lot of time and commitment, but the results are well worth the effort. If you just don’t have the time, hire a professional to properly socialize your new puppy or dog. Happy Dogs @ Home can help with socialization programs to fit your dogs needs, whether you need one day a week or five. Let us know if we can help by scheduling a free consultation.
– Jan