Socialization is vital for proper mental and social development in dogs. But it needs to be offered properly. Mistakes in socialization, even if intentions are good, can backfire. It may even produce an overly shy or an aggressive dog. Sometimes what people intend as helpful socialization creates more problems than it prevents.
Good socialization introduces a puppy or dog to something new (person, place, sound, object) and may even challenge the dog a little. Good socialization provides a POSITIVE experience for the dog. It is important that the socialization or challenge is positive IN THE DOG"S MIND not yours. Watch your dog's body language to see his cues of stress or relaxation. If your dog barks, growls, or snaps, he is definately over the threshold. His experience is surely NOT pleasant and since he gave his body language signals that he was uneasy, he was pushed over his threshold and now does what dog's do when the stress is too much to handle.
I was Petsmart yesterday and there was a labX pup coming towards me in the aisle. As I approached, I noticed the pup's ears drawn back, tail down almost between his legs, eyes dilated, and taking a few small steps backwards. The lady looked down at her pup, tightened up the leash, and pulled him forward. I was just about to turn around to walk the other way when the lady said "You can pet my pup. We are here to socialize him". I stopped and looked at the pup and he was totally stressed out. The lady bent down and started to pet the pup while saying "It's OK" and all I could see was the pup had no way out of this situation and he was on the edge of his threshold.
So would this pup have gone over the threshold if I went to pet him? Would he have barked, growled or snapped? There is always a pretty good chance in such situations and I was already invading his comfort zone. I was not trying to avoid getting a bite on the hand. I was avoiding putting him in a no win situation because all he wanted to do was hide from me and he could not. AND the lady was petting him & saying OK while he was this stressed. In her mind she was reassuring him to be OK with me but in the pup's mind he was getting reinforced (petting/cooing) for being in the state he was in....tense and frightened. So now it is OK for pup (in the pup's mind) do the same behavior when another person approaches?
When I turned and walked away, tears started to swell in my eyes. I'm imagining myself in his paws. What options are there in this kind of fearful situation? For all animals, including humans, it is flight or fight? No flight...now fight? What does the future hold for this pup?
So please everyone, whether it is your own dog or a foster....watch and learn. Your dog communicates with his body. Learn his signals! Watch him and if he is uncomfortable.....don't force it. Work in small doses. Your dog will make much faster progress with a series of baby steps than with any overwhelming preliminary experiences. And SUCCESSFUL training sessions equals a happy, relaxed and sociable K9.
Shar @ Pawsitive Dog www.pawsitivedog.info pawsh@baldwin-telecom.net
