08/03/2022
What should socialisation look like? Well. Hopefully with a well researched owner, the first part is easy. The first part is calculating what is possible. With thorough research and an experienced breeder this comes under ensuring the puppy is correct for the home. Who the puppy is gives you a clue as to what is possible and appropriate and ethical. A rural bred stock guarding Tibetan mastiff is unlikely to make a good candidate for an easy cafe/urban family pet to take to the dog park. For many individuals of this breed that reality would never be comfortable and shouldn’t be attempted.
If the owner has not had the benefit of plenty of research and a decent breeder whose given the right puppy for their lifestyle then we as professionals can helped work out the parameters of what is going to be realistic and appropriate for the puppy.
However, it’s not necessary for every dog to be socialised in every environment. Dog trainers often get stuck on this idea of blanket socialisation. I don’t put too much emphasis on taking my sports bred mondio malinois puppy to dog parks or to chill and watch kids playing unless I’m working her. I want to be able to work her around these things but I’d never expect her to relax around them or to play with strange kids or dogs. I don’t need that and she doesn’t need that. Countryside dogs don’t always require city training and vida versa.
Each socialisation is and should be different based on what’s possible and fair for that dog (genetics and early puppyhood dependant) as well as realistically what’s needed to help the puppy fit in with the life they’re going to have. The whole process choice should be about selecting the right hand for the glove and doing everything to enhance confort and longevity: choosing appropriate dogs and the creating resilience and training for comfort all based on the life they’re personally going to live.
