May 18, 2011
I read your instructions on socialization of dogs. My question is how do you do proper socialization if you never allow your dog to come in contact with strangers or other dogs?
Full Question:
Ed,You wrote, "I also NEVER allow a dog to come in contact with another dog unless my dog is 100% solid in obedience under extreme distraction (i.e. another dog is extreme distraction). Also I NEVER allow people to pet my dog." My question is how do you socialize the dog if the dog has never been pet by a stranger. If you don't take your dog around other dogs until he is 100% trained, isn't that a little late in life to begin socialization with other animals?
Thanks,
Vanessa
Ed's Answer:
You do not understand socialization of dogs.
- A dog is socialized when it is exposed to a different environments and different situations that may (or may not) be stressful to the dog. This does not mean meeting strangers. Dogs are pack animals - they do not need to meet people outside of its family pack - they need to learn to be around strange people without being aggressive to them but they do not need to learn to be touched by strangers.
- The same goes for meeting other dogs. Dogs need to learn to ignore other animals not to be social with them.
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