Puppy Behavior—How Well Does Your Dog Get Along With Other Dogs?

Early in your dog’s life they may get along well with other dogs and then suddenly you notice they no longer seem friendly with or, are interested in, other dogs. Your dog may have grown shy or somewhat aggressive when around other dogs. This may be the result of a lack of regular socializing with other dogs and not because of some physical or medical issues. Like humans, even dog behavior can change as time passes.
Some dogs, like people, seem to be a natural at mixing and mingling with others. For others it may have to be a gradual and learned behavior. Either way, if you have allowed your pet to stop socializing, for whatever reason, their friendly manner may change. There are things you can do to help them regain their acceptable social skills.
The way a dog interacts with other dogs at a dog park may not be indicative of their behavior around other dogs in general. It’s considered to be normal for a mature dog to not be able to interact nicely with strange dogs then the other way around. Dogs in the wild don’t make it a habit of becoming friends with other dogs they meet. It’s not natural for them to mingle with strange dogs. Humans, by ‘forcing’ the issue can be the cause of some problems. If you’re at a dog park keep a close on your dog to monitor their behavior and mood. This can be a way to determine the dog’s likelihood of accepting other dogs and your level of interaction in the socializing process.
If any of your friends have dogs try to schedule a get-acquainted date with one dog at a time. Start slowly and don’t let one dog dominate the other. This should be a low-pressure meeting just to see how both dogs get along. Trying with one dog is going to be easier than with a bunch of dogs at a dog park. If that works well try to schedule other times with the same dog to go for walks and play some games of fetch or other activities.
Another good controlled situation would be dog obedience classes. All the dogs are in a controlled environment and your dog will be around others but not so close. If your dog already seems timid or scared around other dogs this can be a helpful, controlled transition experiment.
If the obedience classes go well and you have the time and desire to take it a step further you may want to try agility contests. Your dog will be around a lot of other dogs and get the benefit of exercise and time with you. Dogplay.com may have some good ideas for different organized activities for socializing and exercise.
If your dog has a good personality and temperament you may want to consider training for them to become a therapy dog. The dogs and owners visit nursing homes, hospitals, senior centers and apartments, rehabilitation units, and other places where people aren’t allowed to keep pets or they just aren’t capable of caring for them.
A doggy daycare program is another option but may be the least desirable depending on the type of facility. Get some comments from other people that have used the program. You want make sure the staff is attentive, the groups are supervised, and there are different areas for dogs of different sizes. Your dog should be introduced to the pack slowly so everyone can get used to each other. Some of these places may require annual re-vaccinations for distemper and rabies for instance and you may want to evaluate the necessity of that. Talk to your vet.
And finally, one of the best ways for both of you is get out their for regular daily walks. Some of the personality issues with your dog may be from lack of exercise and the anxiety and frustration that can result from that. You both get what you need: interaction with each other and some fresh air and exercise.
Click Here: Learn How to Potty Train Your Puppy