Socializing Your Dog to
Other Dogs
You have a new
bag of dog food and a bunch of new toys. You planned to take a day
off work just to make this trip just as you have been planning for
weeks and waiting for the pup you picked out to be weaned. You
placed a deposit on the animal six months ago, long before it was
even born and the day has finally come. You're bringing the new
puppy home today. On the way home, one of the kids asks, "Dad do you
think him and old Yeller will get along?" UH OH... Forgot to plan
that one out, didn't you? Now what? Well, it looks like you are
going to get a socializing lesson for your dogs. So how hard can it
be? It's not really difficult at all if you follow these simple
steps.
For the First
tip, insure the Safety of Both Animals and Yourself. To start, make
certain that the puppy will be safe. If the new dog is small enough,
place the new pup in a pet container or some other sturdy structure
that prohibits the dog from actually physically contacting the
animal but still allows for both animals to see, smell and hear each
other. This provides a way for both animals to acclimate to each
other in a safe situation. In the case of larger dogs or two adult
dogs, leashing both animals may be advisable and having an assistant
on hand is recommended.
Secondly,
rewards will work wonders at achieving a peaceful home life for your
two pets. After the animals have both calmed a bit give them each a
small reward, such as a morsel of some favourite food. Be sure to
give the dogs lots of verbal praise and affection for not barking or
trying to be aggressive towards each other as this will show the
dogs that you are accepting of the other pet's presence and you
expect them to be also. Repeat this process several times until both
animals seem fairly accustomed to the presence of the other and
their aggressions seem to have subsided.
The third tip
to socializing your animal is Get Help. This step will require an
assistant to help with one of the animals. Have the assistant leash
the dog and hold him firmly on a very short leash. After instructing
the assistant to maintain control of the dog, open the pet carrier
and bring the new pet out carefully or if both animals are on
leashes, bring them together. Your dogs will likely move towards
each other to explore the other animal so be sure the assistant has
the dog held tightly and be careful not to let the new pet panic and
escape your grasp. Gradually bring them closer together and let them
calmly adapt to each others presence. The dogs may show a bit of an
aggression towards each other and this is ok at first. They will
learn a pecking order quickly and resolve any small dilemmas between
themselves.
The final
point to remember is that not everyone is going to get along. There
will be days where the dogs are going to feud. Some animals were
just never meant to live in harmony but with a lot of patience and a
little direction you can make your household fairly peaceable most
of the time. When things go sour, just take it in stride and put the
animals in their separate areas for a bit and, given a cooling
period, they will be friends again in no time.
Another great
idea for socializing your dog to other dogs can be done long before
you get a new pup. Take your dog to the park or some place with lots
of dogs and let him explore the other animals. Perhaps even be the
host of a Pooch Party and invite several playmates for your dog and
their human companions to come over for a treat and some time
together. This is a great way to teach your dog some manners and
also gives you a great way to relax. With these simple tips you can
be certain that life around your home will be much more peaceful and
your pets will have companions for a lifetime.
Recommended Resource Dog Trainer Pro
Dog Article
courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com