How To Train Your Dog To Be Social [10 Effective Ways!]

Dogs are generally meant to be social animals. When encaged for too long, they tend to become anti-social and may even pose some harm to their owners and the others in the neighborhoods.

It is hence imperative for any dog owner to know the tricks and the tactics to use to make their dogs social.

We have dedicated the entire length and breadth of the discussions that follow to just that.

Here, we shall look into the steps and strategies you might use to make your dog social. As you shall note, the steps involved require a great deal of patience on your side.

10 Effective Ways to Train Your Dog To Be Social

#1: Muzzle the dog if aggressive

If your dog is aggressive, you are advised to muzzle it up to prevent it from biting, barking, or growling at people or other dogs. The muzzle basically creates a barrier between the mouth of the dog and the surrounding environment. It also instills a sense of calmness whenever your dog is caged in it.

At no other point is it as significant as when the dog is walked in a park. Chances are high that it shall interact and mingle with many people or other dogs. It is at such a time that the dog will most likely be a threat to the other persons and entities we have mentioned.

#2: Expose your dogs to various social activities safely

Even if your dog is an introvert, you will still have to expose it to others in public places and even the members of your household. This is something we advise should happen slowly and steadily. Do not rush as you might end up spoiling issues.

Instead, we ask you to adopt a cautious approach. Start small and only expand your horizons if you notice that your dog is also responsive. Make use of both the leash and the muzzle to do these two as they are the apparatus that has the ability to up your working.

#3: Maintain a daily routine

For better outcomes, you have to maintain a daily routine. This should take place preferably the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. By maintaining a strict yet regular regime, you help your dog to familiarize themselves with the surrounding environments and other dogs.

As you walk your dog, be advised to try out many tricks and tactics that may seem fit for its health and overall well-being. These should be things like running around, jogging, playing, and mingling with the other dogs around it. Such walks are definitely great also for the health of the dogs.

#4: Exercise Great Caution

We started out by intimating that the nature of dogs is somewhat unpredictable. As you undertake any form of training, you are advised to be extremely cautious with the kind of approach you take. Particularly, take great care that you do not aggravate the volatile situation.

Be sure that the ‘other party’ is similarly friendly, warm, and welcoming before making the first move.

Watch out for the common signs of pain and anxiety such as abnormal panting, tail in between the legs, excessive yawning, and restlessness. They are indicative of the need to slow down the introduction albeit for a while.

#5: Follow Your Dog’s Cues

Dogs, just like humans, have their own elastic limits. This means there is just how far and how long they can hold on or endure a particular training regime.

Be mindful of this as well. As a way of achieving this end, you may consider studying your dog’s every move and interaction carefully.

In the course of doing that, you should also make the first move to discontinue the interactions temporarily as the dog gets back on its feet. Particularly, never get to a point where you have to tire your dog or weary it excessively.

#6: Purchase and supply your dog with the necessary essentials

The training of the dog can never be complete, effective, or wholesome without furnishing it with the necessary supplies.

Indeed, you will find a number of items and paraphernalia useful insofar as the attainment of this sacred end is concerned. Some of the items are the pets, safety gear, and of course the muzzle!

A walk to the nearest dog store will provide the much-needed starting point. Ask the storeman to help you in finding the most suitable and needful for your dog training needs. Then again, you have to factor the unique sizes, weights, and dimensions of the dog as they all count.

#7: Stock up on Treats

Most dogs will often do anything just to get a treat. You should never hence fail to factor a treat in your dog care regime. That is not when you want your dog to act fast and yield forth the necessary outcomes within the shortest realistic duration of time.

Choose treats that are highly nutritious in nature and low in calories. They not only entice your dog to do well but at the same time furnish the dog with the necessary nutrients. Your incorporation and use of them are certainly able to let you achieve more than one end at a time.

#8: Consider signing up for Dog Classes

If your training is intended to inculcate your dog with professional skills and expertise, you can never do this without signing up your dog for the various relevant dog classes. Find a suitable school that similarly is able to offer great lessons for your dogs and sign it up there.

You might have to check out their curriculum before taking this bold step. Remember, some training is too militaristic to engage your dog in. Needless to say, you also have to be mindful of the costs of training as well. Training your dog ought not necessarily to be a ‘life and death affair.

#9: Uphold a Timely and Predictable Schedule

When exactly you commence the exercise of training also counts. As a general rule, you are advised to start very early.

Usually, the time period from 3-12 weeks is the most ideal for your commencement of the training exercise. It is at this stage that the dogs learn and grasp concepts a bit too fast.

While training your dog, you should also uphold a timely and predictable schedule. This is to prevent the dogs from possibly getting confused.

It also ensures that the dogs grasp the necessary concepts faster without any undue inconveniences. Drafting and adhering to a timetable is one sure way of achieving this end.

#10: Adopt a comprehensive approach

By far the best way to inculcate your dog to the surrounding environment is to adopt a comprehensive approach.

This simply means doing all you can to familiarize yourself with the surroundings and the other people that matter to it. A training that is comprehensive is likely to yield better outcomes.

It also gives the dogs a more balanced approach, a fact that goes beyond to make it a better and healthier companion.

These could take the form of mixing with people, other dogs, other household pets, and many training scenarios. Obviously, this may demand some expert intervention to implement.

Conclusion

There is never the best time to start it out. Taking too long or dragging your feet excessively can and will only delay the benefits that come along. Why not embark on the task of finding a suitable regime right away? We are always ready to help out if need be!