Dog Friends: No to dog parks, yes to playdates
Have you ever walked into a party or bar and had the entire crowd rush at you, asking questions about who you are and why you are there? Sounds terrifying doesn’t it?! This is what happens when you enter a dog park with your dog. Some people like this attention but I would gather to say most people would feel threatened to some degree if this happened to them.
The same goes for dogs…
This has to be the worst thing you can teach your dog about socializing with other dogs; that running up head on to another dog is allowed. This is actually considered EXTREMELY RUDE in the dog world! We have not helped our dogs socialize properly, allowing them to think all dogs should not only be doing this daily but that every dog loves to be around other dogs. It’s not true; actually most dogs prefer to only have a couple of good friends and the rest they don’t care about. It’s equivalent to teaching young kids about personal space and consent; not everyone wants a hug from you and you don’t have to give a hug to anyone you don’t want to.
You can always tell a properly socialized dog by how they approach other dogs.
A properly socialized dog will sometimes just ignore another dog and sniff the ground. Once they feel comfortable to approach, they will come towards the other dog at a curved angle and approach slowly to the side. This is a proper dog to dog interaction. Unfortunately, you don’t see this happen at dog parks.
There is a graph that displays the preferred social interactions of dogs.
https://www.everydogaustin.org/post/spectrum
Most dogs, about 85%, fall into the category of liking a handful of dogs and that’s okay for them. The other 15% are split up into dogs that are incredibly social (these are the ones that you see out and about enjoying other dogs) or dogs that have no interest in other dogs. So most dogs are satisfied with only a few friends; they’re not as social as you may think.
There is also a point in your dog’s social maturity where their preferences change. This happens between the ages of 2-3yrs old. As a puppy or young dog, they were enjoying lots of other dogs. Then around 2-3 years old, they decide that some dogs are too much for them and start showing signs of anxiety in big dog groups or around dogs with a lot of energy. As owners, we should advocate for our dogs when we start to see these signs and not force our dogs into social situations they are not comfortable with.
Let’s start your dog off on the right paw and just say no to dog parks but yes to play dates with other properly socialized dogs.
A great way to tell if a dog is properly socialized is by going for a walk with both dogs:
Start off on opposite ends of the street or yard and walk your dogs parallel.
Do this for about 10 minutes or so.
If both dogs are able to ignore each other after a few repetitions then they are ready to play! If one dog is too excited or fearful, its’ best to forego the play date.
Alternatives to dog parks:
A pack walk with your dog and other dogs participating in a group activity - check out twochicksandapack.com for their hiking packages
Find a running buddy for your dog - ruffrunnersatl.com provides physical stimulation and can bring along a friend for your dog to run with!
Chops and Mochi enjoying each other’s company after a group class
