06/05/2026
🐾 There are many dogs who love to play with other dogs. Most of the time these may be dogs that the dog sees regularly and knows, but some adult dogs do not enjoy interactions with every dog they see.
Socialisation isn’t about every dog playing together or always getting along. It has become a very loosely used word that technically describes a specific period of puppyhood development.
Puppies approach interactions quite differently than adult dogs because they’re at a different stage of development, and are naturally more social butterflies. However, as they grow up (like we do) and reach social maturity, somewhere between one and three years old, some dogs start to socially decline and become more dog selective or dog tolerant.
A few become dog intolerant and prefer no strange dogs at all. Not all dogs want another dog’s nose up their bum.
👨🦰Many people believe that all dogs should be friendly and get along. Unfortunately, stereotypes from dog park culture and social media often reinforce this idea. As a result, dog guardians may unintentionally push their dogs into interactions with others in public, often saying, ‘Don’t worry, my dog is friendly’…
This can be both frustrating and unsafe, especially when an on-lead dog is approached boisterously by an off-lead dog. These situations can lead to negative interactions, as the on-lead dog may feel trapped and unable to move freely or express their body language clearly.
💥Long before a dog avoids another dog or lashes out, they usually give quieter signals that they’re uncomfortable. Watch for lip licks, turning the head away, yawning, a stiff or low tail, or freezing on the spot. Most people miss these because they’re waiting for the dramatic stuff. If those early signs are ignored, that’s often when a dog moves on to avoiding or reacting.
How would you feel if a stranger walked up and cuddled you? I don’t know about you, but that’s not something I would enjoy. Not all dogs like to greet or be greeted, and this goes both ways. Even a friendly dog can find a greeting overwhelming.
If you have a dog who does not like interacting with dogs they don’t know (especially while on leash) - that’s ok!
Your dog is allowed to feel this way!
Be your dog’s advocate and tell the other dog guardian to not approach you with their dog. This is being proactive, and preventing your dog from being in a situation that may cause them distress.
Additionally, if you know your dog doesn’t like dogs approaching them, manage your environment by choosing quieter areas, using distance, or positioning yourself between your dog and others to help them feel more secure. Ask for space early, while there’s still a good gap between you. Creating distance at twenty metres is easy. At three metres it’s a scramble.
❗️It is important to not allow your dog to get into the habit of greeting every dog that you walk past because:
• One day you may walk past a dog who doesn’t like being greeted which could cause your dog to get lunged at.
• It puts them at risk as you may not be able to tell if that dog is a good match in temperament for your dog.
• You don’t know if the other dog may have had a negative experience in interacting with other dogs.
• It may cause long-term nervousness if your dog is constantly being snapped at by other dogs which may lead to your dog becoming reactive.
🐕Creating space will help with making your dog or the other dog feel safe, just in case the other dog lunges. If a dog starts to approach you in the street, cross the road to the other side.
www.seespotlearn.co.nz 🐾
