09/06/2026
How do i correctly socialise my dog?
Contray to what many dog owners think, initially socialising your dog to other dogs does not look like your dog racing around a field with lots of other dogs. In many cases, regardless of the handler, it is not a question of if something will happen, it's when. Your goal to introducing your dog to other dogs should initially be by following the three second rule.
🐾 Allow your leaded dog to greet the opposing dog for three seconds, then call them away. If BOTH dogs want to go back, take this as a cue that it is safe to continue. If not, then it is time to move on.
🐾 Dog parks can be unpredictable. It is generally best to set up play days with reliable dog owners who embed well behaved manners into their dogs and encourage recall.
🐾 If your dog shows anxiety or nervousness, ensure that you give a proximity boundery, gradually narrowing the gap but only when they are ready.
Key points to remember...
✋️ Never allow your dog to run at full speed towards an opposing dog that they do not know. This is not only disrespectful of other dogs and their space but it is also dangerous!
✋️ Never allow your dog to greet every dog and person that they pass, this will very much prove to be a nusience as your pup grows. Neutrality and control is key in proper dog socialisation. Create calm, not chaos.
✋️ If your dog does not want to greet other dogs then that is okay. Although in an ideal world, all dogs would love to play with one another, forced interaction and 'hoping for the best' should never be encoraged and could end in devestation. Prolonged forced exposure could also put you at a disadvantage, making your dog reactive or even aggressive.
