Dog Socialization - Do Dogs Need to Socialize with Other Dogs?

My trainer said something interesting the other day. She claimed that dog-to-dog socialization is purely for us humans; so we can have a dog that we can take with us everywhere.

Dogs, according to her, really need to socialize with their people but are perfectly happy with or without other dogs around. She said that dogs are happier curled up in bed with us, with a piece of steak, than they are socializing with their dog friends.

When you watch puppies at play, it is easy to believe that dogs really do need socialization with other dogs. They are so exuberant in their play, they have so much fun with each other, and then they just plop down next to each other in a puppy heap during sleep time. How can a human even compete with that, much less replace it?

Here is what some dog veterans think about dog socialization.

Dogs really need quality socialization time with their humans.

Certain dogs (like my Shiba Inu) really need to be with people that they have bonded with, while others (like my Siberian Husky) are happy as long as there are people around to interact with her.

It is important to spend quality time with your dogs when you are home. Play time, obedience training, and walking are all important, and will help establish trust, respect, and a lifetime bond with your dog.

It is also important to be a good pack leader to your dog and teach him the proper rules of behavior in a human world. This can be done by following the Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF) program and using reward obedience training.

Dogs may not need other dogs, but general socialization is extremely important.

Because our dogs live in a human world, it is important to expose them to a variety of dogs, people, and weird-scary objects (e.g. umbrella, balloons, garbage truck); especially when they are young. As you expose them to more things, they will become more confident and be less likely to get fearful and aggressive when faced with something new and unexpected.

If your dog is fearful of something, be sure to desensitize him to it slowly. Manage where you take your dog so that you do not expose him to too many frightening things at once.

A well-socialized dog, that is confident and comfortable with his surroundings is a joy to have around, and can follow you everywhere.

He is less likely to be aggressive and misbehave, even in stressful and unexpected situations. He trusts you to handle bad situations, and is a happier and more balanced dog as a result.

Do not expect your dog to like socializing with all other dogs.

Many dog movies and television shows present an unrealistic image of the dog. He is naturally obedient, and loyal; magically understands verbal commands in at least 5 different languages; and loves all people and animals (except for the bad guys).

The truth though is that most dogs are not Lassie, and will not enjoy the company of all people or dogs.

Always observe and listen to what your dog is trying to tell you. Understand his social boundaries and protect him from rude dogs and rude humans.

In "He Just Wants to Say Hi", Suzanne Clothier illustrates how dogs have social boundaries just as humans do. We do not allow strangers to come up to us, invade our space, and physically man-handle us. We should not allow strangers to do that to our dogs either, especially if our dog dislikes having his space violated.

If you are thinking of adding a new dog to your family, introduce your existing dogs to the new dog first, on neutral territory (e.g. a quiet park, empty parking lot). See if your existing pack accepts the newcomer and assess the temperament of the newcomer to determine if he may alter pack dynamics.

Opening your home to a new puppy or new dog, especially a shelter dog, is an awesome thing to do, but I believe that the addition should not be made at the expense of your existing dogs.

Age, bad experiences, as well as physical health issues may change your dog's social tolerance.

Puppies really need to be with their litter-mates, at least until they are about 8 weeks old. Playing with their litter-mates help them learn social manners, bite inhibition, and other skills.

Adult dogs, including their mother, can help set good rules and boundaries for them at an early age. As puppies mature, however, their need for other dogs dissipate. In fact, if not properly socialized, they may become fearful and cautious of other dogs. Depending on breed, some dogs may also be sensitive towards other dogs or humans crowding their space.

It is important to ensure that your dog's interactions with other dogs are not negative. Too many negative experiences, may cause them to become fearful and aggressive towards other dogs.

My Shiba Inu does not have very good dog greeting manners. He is a very in your face dog, and regularly annoys other dogs because he is not very aware of invading their space. I manage him very carefully, and whenever we see any unknown dogs we just quickly move on.

In this way, he is learning avoidance, and building up many neutral experiences with other dogs; which will hopefully curb his reactivity to other dogs in the future. I have tried to improve his greeting and playing manners by doing training sessions with balanced, well-socialized dogs, but I have not seen any change in his behavior thus far.

Health issues may also affect a dog's social comfort level.

I have a three-legged (tripod) Siberian Husky who is friendly but cautious with other dogs. She is also very submissive, especially with new dogs. This is a really good protective mechanism that keeps other dogs from challenging and overwhelming her.

Three legged dogs, seniors, and dogs with joint pain or other physical illness, naturally feel more vulnerable, and may perceive most things as threats. They may respond with aggression to protect themselves.

It is crucial not to expose such dogs to overly stressful situations, and to always protect them from unwanted attention (dog and human).

Dogs do not need to socialize with other dogs, but if they can have a friendly dog companion, so much the better.

One of the best things you can get for your dog is another dog to play with.

My Shiba Inu really loves wrestling and chasing, and it is just not possible for us humans to really play dog. We can't run very fast and our wrestling skills are very limited compared to theirs.

In general, it is not a good idea to wrestle and play rough with your dog, because then he may start playing rough with other humans including children, seniors, or even adults that may be fearful of dogs.

Unless you have great off-leash control over your dog, it is safer to institute the "no wrestling with humans" rule at all times.

I got a Siberian Husky puppy when my Shiba Inu reached about 1 year old.

I waited 1 year before getting another dog because I wanted some alone time to bond with my Shiba Inu. If you get two puppies together, they may just bond with each other and never warm up to human company. If you wait too long to get a second dog, your dog may get too set in his ways and may not like to share with a new canine companion.

I chose a Siberian Husky because they are active dogs that like chasing and wrestling, just like my Shiba Inu. Note that certain breeds may prefer retrieving balls, or herding, so it is important to evaluate your dog and his preferred social activities. You can then pick a breed that is compatible with your dog's play style.

If it is not possible to get another dog, consider taking your dog to friendly playgroups, dog daycare, the dog park, or just enroll him with a dog walker for group walks.