Living in the urban jungle, it's tough enough for people to have a fulfilling social life without having to think about socializing their dogs as well.
Luckily though, some of the best ways to socialize your dog are also going to do magic for your own social life.
Socialization is the most pressing concern with any dog of any age as it prevents numerous problems.
Whereas many behavior and training problems, even in adulthood, are pretty easily cured with a little resolve, temperament problems can be extremely difficult and time consuming to resolve in adult dogs.
For example, it often takes a long time to rehabilitate fearful and aggressive adult dogs.
While you can live with a dog which barks, digs or chews inappropriate items, it is hard to live with a dog that doesn't like people, especially if it doesn't like you! And so socialization should be the 'A' Number One Top Priority in your dog's life.
A side benefit of having a well socialized dog is that once he loves people you can enlist your friends to help you train your people friendly dog.
Puppy Socialization If you have a new puppy there are a number of socialization deadlines.
Firstly, socialization with people must be well underway and desensitization to the physical environment must be virtually completed by three months of age.
This means your puppy should meet lots of people of varying age, race and gender.
He should also be exposed to variations in his environment.
If your puppy is properly environmentally socialized you would be hard pressed to find a sight or sound that would really scare him.
Your puppy probably left his litter at around 8 weeks old.
Make sure you capitalize on the critical socialization window of 8-22 weeks old by focusing on socializing your puppy with people.
During this time be sure to have lots of people around the house hand-feeding and training, so the pup learns to love people.
While people are greeting your new puppy it is a wonderful opportunity to have them lure/reward train him.
This way your pup is being socialized and trained at the same time.
How efficient! There are loads of things visitors can teach the puppy for you, while you sit in your armchair with a cup of tea.
They can use a bit of kibble to get him to sit, lie down, and stand.
Socialization with people must be maximized by three months of age, by which time your puppy should have met and positively interacted with at least fifty different people.
This shouldn't be too hard, he is a puppy after all, so it's not like you'll have to beg people to come over to meet him! By three months of age your puppy is old enough to go outside.
He is also ready to go to Puppy Class! So ask your neighbors and Veterinarian for a referral to a good class and get your little guy enrolled.
Puppy classes are a blast! Not only will they be your pup's big night out but also, puppy classes will be one of your most cherished memories of puppyhood before your puppy collides with adolescence.
At this stage, socialization with other dogs becomes a major priority, second only to continuing your puppy's enjoyable socialization with people.
So, continue to invite people around and take your puppy out as much as possible to meet lots of new dogs and new people.
Never forget, you still need to continue to socialize this pup throughout his adolescence and adulthood.
Whenever you stop walking your dog on different routes (so he can meet different dogs) or letting him meet people, he may start to regress.
Adult Dog Socialization If you have a new adult dog or a dog who you think could benefit from a little more socialization (that is every dog!) you need only adhere to two simple steps to turn your dog into a social hound.
First, hand feed your dog at least half his kibble each day for a week.
If you are as busy as I am this seems like a daunting task, but this little exercise is the most valuable thing you can do with your dog.
By doing so you will accomplish a number of things including teaching your dog to sit, down and stand and to like taking food gently from human hands.
Each piece of kibble is given when the dog responds to your request to sit, stand or down.
Also, be sure to keep a firm grip on the food in your closed hand and wait to open your hand until the dog stops worrying at it.
This is how you will teach your dog the way to get food from your hand is to back off and take it gently.
Secondly, you will take at least 30 pieces of your dog's kibble with you on walks and ask any person who looks dog friendly (going for a walk near a dog run is a good idea) to=2 0ask your dog to sit using the food as a lure and then to give it to your dog as a reward.
Before you know it your dog will sit when asked, sit automatically to greet people (instead of jumping) and like people (because they are the source of tasty kibble).
If your dog is a bit fearful around people, just take things slow.
Don't ask people to approach your dog.
Instead, sit on a park bench and just hang out and watch the world go by.
Every once in a while give your dog a piece of his kibble when someone passes by.
Whether your dog is fearful or not this is a wonderful exercise, for both you and your dog to relax.
As your dog builds up confidence around people, you can select friends to practice hand feeding your dog and asking him to sit.
Pretty soon you will have a dog who is friendly with people and greets them by sitting.
Your dog will now do wonders for your social life.
Simply invite over a few friends for a dog training party.
You may get a few giggles at first but, trust me, they will show up in droves.
Give each person a little bag with 5-10 pieces of kibble in it.
By the end of the evening each person will have asked your dog for at least 3 sits and 3 downs.
If you invite over ten people that is one great training session!