All of us dog owners experience social situations with our dogs multiple times daily. Our dogs need to get outside, exercise and be a part of the world. However, just because our dogs (and ourselves) are out, does that mean our dogs should be social?
The answer is no. Dog tolerance is variable and will change with both age and experience. Now, don’t get me wrong, it obviously would be nice for our dogs to get along with every other dog they meet. It would a much simpler and stress-free walk. The reality is that life happens. Unpleasant situations happen. Biology happens. Basically, things outside of our control happen. What we can do to help is to set up our dogs for success. Here are some ideas as to how:
Gradual Exposure
If you are unsure of how your dog will react, take a gradual exposure approach. Gradually expose them in a quiet, controlled environment before moving on to busier situations.
Positive Training
When your dog does not exhibit aggressive behaviour, use treats and lots of praise to encourage the behaviour. Never force your dog to say hi or get angry if your dog is scared because this can worsen the fear or behaviour.
Basic Commands
In high traffic areas, it is beneficial for you to be able to keep your dog’s focus on you. Learning basic commands can help them stay focused on you and not some outside trigger.
Environment Awareness
If you know your dog doesn’t react well to high energy situations like dog parks, try meeting up with a doggy friend one-on-one. Be aware if there is anything that triggers your dog and stay alert to any changes in behaviours.
Body Language
Watch your dog’s body language for any sign of fear or anxiety. This could be panting, a tucked or straight tail, or a refusal to move. Knowing your dogs’ stressors can help you avoid an aggressive situation.
At the end of the day, we can’t control the whole world around our dog. What we can do is try our very best to set them up for success. By attempting the above, we are doing our part to help our pups have more positive experiences than not.
