Fever pets

The Importance of Socialization
By Brett Endes

Of all the cases I encounter, dogs that display anti-social behaviors whether it be towards other dogs or humans, are always the most challenging and complicated to treat. They also require the most work to "undo" or change the opinions of what the dog has learned about the world around them. The positive aspect of this is that with very little effort, cases such as these can be easily avoided by utilizing proper socialization techniques and training.

What is socialization? Socialization is the process of acclimating and integrating your dog into the various environments and stimulus (people, dogs, cats, cars, etc.) they will encounter throughout their lives. This process is best done at critical imprint periods that occur throughout a puppy's development which is usually between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. But even an adult dog who seems set in their ways can be socialized to foreign situations if approached and treated correctly.

By socializing our pets we are accomplishing many things: At the basic level, we are allowing our dogs to see everyday things as acceptable and positive. On another level, the self-confidence that comes with a properly socialized dog creates a very sound mind within our dogs which is less likely to display other problem behaviors from the anxiety and discontentment associated with anti-social personalities. Last and most importantly, by not being properly socialized your dog misses out on many aspects of life that make being a dog so great!

It is best to establish a training and socialization regiment as soon as you get your new dog or puppy. In the case of puppies, you want to gradually increase the intensity of what you are getting them used to and always be introducing them to new things, puppies get bored quickly. With adult dogs, who may have had an anti-social history and are convinced that they need to see things they way they do, a more thorough training and socialization program would be appropriate for them. This would help "reverse" their opinions (for the better) of how they see everyday situations, therefore eliminating the symptoms of aggression, phobias, anxieties, and problem behaviors we see in anti-social dogs.

Socialization is one of the easiest ways to help our dogs develop into well-adjusted, happy members of society. But remember, even if your dog doesn't particularly love the mailman or that "dog down the street", with some effort and understanding, it is not too late to teach them how to give peace a chance!