Senior Dogs and Socialization

Topic: Socialization

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Everyone has heard the saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks but that is certainly false. Socializing and training a senior dog just requires persistence, patience, treats and lots of love. Everybody wants his or her canine member of the family to be secure and well behaved. Dog obedience classes, agility training, doggie day care and playtime classes have become more popular and common but now the idea of socializing dogs, including senior dogs has gained popularity over the last few years.
By nature, dogs are social creatures that enjoy both human and canine companionship when socialized correctly.

Well-socialized senior dogs are calm, confident, self-assured animals that handle new and everyday situations with no aggression or fear. A dog that has been isolated or not exposed to other dogs or people will often become agitated or upset in social situations. Things such as people dressed in uniforms, other dogs, loud noises or young children can cause alarm to a senior dog with no socialization skills, making the dog afraid and unpredictable. You want a canine companion that is a joy to be around and you can take places such as to the park, friend's houses and family gatherings without living in fear that your pet may react badly and cause problems.

If you get an older dog that requires socialization, start by touching, petting and interacting with your senior dog regularly. Grooming is an excellent way to accomplish this along with helping you and your pet form a bond. Be sure to talk softly while handling and touching all parts of your pet, especially the sensitive areas such as his ears, feet, nails and muzzle. Work with your dog on this until you can safely open his mouth and check his teeth and gums. This is also a great help when your dog requires medical attention from your veterinarian. Always have doggie treats available for your pet as this makes socializing and obedience training an enjoyable, fun, positive experience. Positive training methods using rewards such as treats and toys is an excellent way to train a dog, especially if the senior dog is aggressive or fearful.

Never overwhelm your dog by trying to socialize him too quickly because this can actually create fear, the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish. It is important to introduce your pet to new people slowly and a good way to start is by inviting a few relatives or friends over to meet your dog. Have your pet on a leash when the people arrive, give everyone some dog treats and once seated, have each person give your dog treats until he is comfortable with them. Repeat this process with other friends until your dog looks forward to people visiting because he gets treats.

Take your senior dog with you wherever you go to help improve his obedience and socialization skills such as walks to the park, around your neighborhood and to friend's houses. Always have total control over the types of socialization environments you expose your dog to so he does not become frightened. Take your dog for car rides, but not only when you are going to the veterinarians or you will end up with a dog that is afraid of the car, because he associates it with something bad. When going to buy pet food, take your dog because most large pet supply stores allow you to bring your pet in with you, which is a wonderful way for your dog to experience an assortment of sights, sounds, smells and different sceneries. This exposes your pet to a variety of animals and people of many sizes, ages, heights and weights. Never introduce your dog to new situations, objects, places and people unless you have complete control over the socializing experience.

Keep in mind that one job as a dog owner is to protect your pet from dangerous or frightening situations. If your dog shows fear in a situation, try to understand why but do not reinforce it by cuddling or babying your pet because he will not overcome his fear if you reinforce it. Once your dog realizes you are the leader, he will trust you to control the event or situation and protect him, so he is not afraid. Only use quiet restraint by praising your dog and giving him treats once he settles down after a stressful situation. Never lose your temper, raise your voice or punish him during training and socialization lessons, as this will make your dog more timid and shy or aggressive and stubborn. People in your household should be educated so they understand when the dog is resting or eating this is his or her time and they should not bother the dog. Friends, children, spouses or other people that may be involved in your pet's care must understand about the ways you use to socialize your dog. Everyone should use the same positive ways to reinforce good behavior as you so the dog does not end up confused or frightened. This will also help increase learning as the messages are all consistent for the dog.

Obedience or socialization classes are an excellent way for a senior dog to meet other dogs and people in a safe, controlled environment. They learn that not all pets and people are a threat, which results in a dog that knows how to relax and behave around unfamiliar animals and people. Dogs know when you are tense or fearful and will notice this, so if your dog growls or barks at another dog and you react by tugging, yelling and yanking on the leash, you are unintentionally teaching your dog aggressive behavior. There is a good chance he will start to tense and act aggressively when another canine approaches because you conditioned him to react this way.

After you have completed socializing a senior dog or even a new puppy and have set the groundwork, it is important to follow through and continue reinforcement training on their socialization skills throughout the years. Always let your dog approach new situations and things when he is ready and comfortable. Your response to the dog's actions will help strengthen your pet's behavior, such as praising, making a fuss or giving your dog a treat when he is curious about an object and smells it instead of attacking.

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