Properly socializing a dog means exposing them to a wide range of environments, sounds, people, and other animals while teaching them to stay calm and focus on their handler — not forcing constant greetings or dog park free-for-alls. A well-socialized dog is confident and neutral around distractions, not simply friendly with every dog it meets.

Common Dog Socialization Misconception

Most people think that a well socialized dog is one that plays with all dogs and wants to greet all people. But if we force dogs into uncomfortable situations repeatedly without actively building their confidence, we are essentially worsening an existing problem.

What is a Well Socialized Dog

To us, socialization means exposing dogs to as many different environments, sounds, smells, people, dogs, and other stimuli as possible and teaching them to ignore those distractions with confidence and engage with their handler instead.

Tips to Socialize Your Dog

• Foster a Calm and Confident Attitude. The quality of dog interactions with their environment is much more important than sheer quantity.
• Control Interactions. Carefully select the environments, dogs, and people your dog could interact with.
• Build a Strong Dog-Handler Relationship. You must become the most valuable entity in your dog's life.

Socialization is an ongoing process. For more help on how to socialize your puppy, speak to the staff at Chomps Dog Training today.