Tips for Socialization Training

Socialization training is a part of dog training that involves exposing your dog to various sight, sounds, and smells in a positive or neutral manner so that they do not develop an aversion or fear to it. The goal with socialization training in the beginning isn’t to interact, but rather to simply learn how to experience a stimuli or event without developing an averse reaction. All socialization training begins at home, then your neighborhood, and is expanded to more places as your dog becomes ready. In this post, I’ll explain why desensitization/socialization training is important for either a service dog or a companion dog, and 10 tips to help you introduce your dog to the world around them without accidentally overwhelming them or creating negative connections.

Is it “Desensitization” or “Socialization”?

Both terms work, but in general, “socialization” refers to a broader sense of exposing the dog to their environment and other stimuli while asking them to be calm and/or maintain focus on you, their owner. “Desensitization” is more specific, referring to teach a dog to react neutrally to a specific stimuli or set of stimulations, or to help a dog through reacting aversely to something to a state of mind where they accept its presence readily. I tend to use the words interchangeably, though they are slightly different, but belonging to the same category within dog training.

Why Does My Dog Need This?

If you’re training a service dog or partner with a service dog… This is very important for service dogs because they need to be able to keep their focus even when sirens are blaring, kids are running past, or the floor moves beneath them as an elevator climbs the levels. Service dogs get exposed to a wide variety of stimulations throughout a single day of public access work, and their job could easily be overwhelming if they are not properly trained to work in strange environments, such as a supermarket. Just another reason why not every dog has what it takes to be a service dog — some dogs can’t handle the over-stimulation, which is understandable.

If you’re training a companion dog… Companion dogs often accompany their owners on hikes, picnics, family vacations, and to pet-friendly establishments. Teach a companion dog how to be confident in different scenarios and gradually exposing them to environments and situations that may be more challenging than their home life can help make adventures with your pup more relaxing for both of you! Socialization training can assist you in building up your dog’s reliability with listening to you and upholding your standards for their manners on the go, too. Once your dog is ready, you can practice obedience and manners in strange, new places that hold more temptation, distraction, or unexpected things. The more your dog improves, the more self-assured they become in their abilities (which now include listening to you around challenges), and more reliable overall with what you’ve taught them.

10 Tips for Success

1. If something unexpected happens, don’t coddle your dog. Take charge, and remain as calm as possible. If you can, move your dog to a further distance from the surprising thing and play a game with them to get their attention. This allows them to experience it without focusing on it. Reach a small goal, then leave.
2. Anything new, start from a distance and gradually work your way closer as your dog shows they are comfortable with the new thing and are able to focus on you at each distance. 50ft is typically a good starting distance.
3. Don’t let your dog zero in on new experiences, especially children or animals. Instead, play games or walk past, to allow your dog to experience it while focusing on you or moving forward. Allowing dogs to zero in can create obsessive behaviors and can lead to other behaviors like barking or lunging.
4. When introducing your dog to inanimate stimuli, like toys that make noise, give them a chance to check things out on leash. Letting your dog approach and sniff, then guiding them away gives them a chance to see something isn’t a threat and that it really doesn’t need much attention.
5. Don’t let your dog interact with new people or animals until they can readily focus on you when other people or animals are around. You want to be your dog’s main focus. When they always look to you first, control the interactions and keep them short, and end with the dog re-engaging with you.
6. Avoid letting your dog meet other dogs in small spaces, or on leash. Things can go sideways very quickly and leashes can create tension which can turn into fights. Allow your dog to experience being around other dogs from a distance. Your dog doesn’t need to meet every dog you see.
7. It will take time for you to learn how to read your dog. There will be times when your dog needs pressure to experience something, others when they just need a little more patience and encouragement. Start with encouragement, but don’t be afraid to use light forward leash pressure and release to help them work through that initial hesitation phase.
8. If your dog is very unsure, set small goals and praise for whatever forward progress they give you. 
9. There will be times food can help your dog create a positive association, but only if they haven’t already learned another behavior with that stimuli/environment. If your dog, for instance, is trying out a new piece of gear, giving them a treat filled Kong to enjoy while wearing the gear can help them not get hyper-focused on the feeling of the new gear. However, if your dog already has a negative association with that gear, they may not take food. Likewise, if your dog has already learned to chase small animals or stare intently at them, they will not care about food.
10. When doing socialization training, advocate for your dog’s space. Politely tell people they can’t pet your dog, ask that other dogs be kept back, etc. Explain that your dog is learning and needs the space to do so.