Top Benefits of Dog Socialization

Chezhi never barks on the streets, whether surrounded and barked at by streeties in new streets or while facing a pet who barks incessantly during walking or pets barking at her from their homes. She just moves on; there was an exception though; once she barked back after repeated barking by a stranger pet who was standing face to face while on a walk, which I thought was strange as she never had done so in the past. Several weeks later, while returning home from an exhaustive walk, she barked at a pet known to her too well. The pet was none other than her sibling. Hope you recall her from the post ‘A Perfect Siblings Session’.

The barking came at the most unexpected moment. They two met on the street and for few seconds it was all love talk. Suddenly Chezhi barked…and repeated. 

I narrated the incident to my family. May be she was a bit low and probably could not handle too much of love display from her birth sister? Or may be she wanted to be petted by her sibling’s father and thought the other girl was not allowing it? 

In a few days’ time, there was a repeat of the incident. This was at our place when Bow Boww was returning home from walking. To those who had not read the post ‘A Perfect Siblings’ Session’, Bow Boww lives a floor above us.

Following this incident, Bow Boww entered our home in a few days time while returning from walk. And, Chezhi barked again after initial excitement and display of happiness on meeting her. It was only at this time I noted what I had missed noticing during the last two episodes. 

I realized her barking always succeeded Bow Boww’s father’s command, “Come let’s go Bow Boww’. Oh yes, Chezhi had not barked at Bow Boww but was voicing her disapproval along with request to Bow Boww’s father to let her birth sister play with her.

“So girl, you want to play with Bow Boww?” I asked Chezhi after they left. Chezhi’s eyes glowed and she was already moving towards the door. I said, “Chezhi, let’s ask her mother if she is free now”. Chezhi kept looking at my mobile for so long that I had no other option but to call my friend on the floor above. They were too willing to let the girls play and so I took Chezhi upstairs to their home.

"Chezhi, will you stay for lunch?"

The two girls had a great time together.

"Will you come to my home tomorrow Bow Boww?"

It so seems Bow Boww promised...and she kept her word. 

Again, it was fun time for the sisters at our place. Chezhi's father was working out with weights and these girls entered the space as if it was their workout time.

"Bow Boww, let's practice weights"

Socializing is an essential skill for dogs just as it is for humans. Dogs need to socialize with other dogs and humans so they can enjoy sound physical and mental health and lead a happy life.

Benefits of Socializing Your Dog

Some of the most important benefits of socializing your dogs with other dogs and humans include:

1) Socialized Dog Has Increased Confidence Levels

A well-socialized dog develops confidence and gets ready to face the world without fear. Being exposed to new environment does not create fear in them; they look forward to exploring new places, meeting different humans, making friends with them and enjoy meeting other dogs. They do not perceive other dogs or humans as threat unless they really are.

They are well-behaved while meeting new persons and other pets on the streets, they are absolutely fine with strays.

Hope you are good at taking pics Chezhi's mom?

The boys in the above picture are Puppy and Tiger. These boys are never on leash while on road with their father. They follow their father's command to the dot and they are great posers too. It seems they enjoy having their face beautified with eyetex.

Chezhi never fails to stop in front of their house if we walk in their area. 

"Feel free to ask me beauty tips Chezhi"

2) Socializing Your Dog with Other Dogs Gives Them A Great Overall Workout

Dogs understand each other better; much better than we humans understand them. No wonder when Chezhi barked, Bow Boww did not bark back; she did not get ready to attack or go on defense. She was still trying to play. She understood that it was a request to let her stay, which precisely was what she wanted as well. 

"Chezhi, can you convince my father?"

They communicate well using their language and gestures and hence letting dogs interact with each other will be a great stimulation for their bodies and minds.

3) Socializing Your Dog Helps with Better Adaptation to Surroundings

Your pet has to hear and get accustomed to all that is happening around her. Right from all sorts of sounds and situations at home including the sounds of mixer grinders and vacuum cleaners and visits from relatives and friends on an occasion to sounds of moving vehicles, horns and sounds at construction sites while on a walk, she may have to experience anything on a given day. 

Well socialized dog will be able to adapt herself to all these situations perfectly well. If a pet is not socialized, she may feel traumatized and this can lead to destructive behaviour or depression during adult years.

Walking sessions become enjoyable with well socialized dogs. They are well-behaved on the streets, while meeting people and fellow dogs. They obey commands and hence it gets easier to handle them in new situations.  

Hope you captured my royal look in the pic

Blacky, in the pic above, is yet another pet that Chezhi meets while walking. They don't get to move with each other often as the moment they meet, they are surrounded by at least another three to four furry friends in that neighborhood. Blacky adapts himself pretty well and is comfortable around people and pets. 

4) Socializing Your Dog Helps to Maintain Better Relationships with Neighbors

Even good neighbours can get frustrated or frightened if your dog barks incessantly or lunges at them. Dogs, by their nature, are protective about their families and hence would bark at anyone whom they think as trespassing their territory or are considered as threats. 

Well-socialized dogs display calm approach and feel perfectly safe around other people and domestic animals. The more socialized a dog is, better does the neighbour feels around the dog. This will help to maintain healthy relationship with your neighbours.

5) Socialized Pets Make Great Travel Companions

Who would not want to take their pets with them on a holiday if there are pet-friendly stays in their holiday destinations? While on a journey, your pet needs to take potty breaks in new surroundings and once you reach your holiday spot, she has to settle down in a new atmosphere. 

Socialized dogs not only handle the change comfortably well but also enjoy visiting new places. It is a win-win situation for them. They get to explore new places and also enjoy good share of attention from their human families, which is not possible back home where work-life balance is often adjusted in favour of work.

You don't need GPS when I am with you  

The boy in the above picture is Maara. Chezhi and Maara meet quite often while walking. Maara is a bundle of energy and is extremely well-behaved. Initially he was possessive whenever Chezhi went close to his father to be petted but now he is fine with it. And, yes, this boy loves travel.

Maara with his Big Brother

6) Socialized Dogs Handle Pet Care Stay Better

Occasions may arise when you have to leave your furry member at pet care while you go on travel. Pets always love to stay with their family and hence will feel sad to be left behind even if it is for a few hours. 

Despite the facilities at pet stay, if a pet is not well-socialized, she will feel anxious throughout her stay at pet care whereas a socialized dog will have the confidence to handle the stay better.

Is there any place for humans called human stay...

Stunning Strays 

Streeties often bowl me over. I would like to mention one such incident here. After reading this lengthy post, hope you still remember what I had written in the opening paragraph about Chezhi barking back at a pet for the first time on street. The moment Chezhi barked back, around six to seven streeties appeared from nowhere and started barking at the other dog. Some started running towards the other dog. 

The support was overwhelming. Why did they choose to support Chezhi when the other pet too has been a regular walker there. 

This made me think that Chezhi's confidence and calm approach may have helped to gain support from streeties where we regularly walk. May be there was some other reason I could not comprehend. 

But, what really was impressive to note was that streeties are well-socialized without being given training and treats. Their lives on streets expose them to sounds and situations of all sorts, they watch people and pets walk by throughout the day, they face people of all sorts - some feed them and some chase them, they face sunshine and rain, harsh weather conditions and sometimes go without food for days. 

This exposure of the highest order has made them acquire socializing skills on their own. If one chooses to adopt them, they can be trained very easily because they have learnt their lessons the hard way...including handling the deafening sound of fire crackers, which also leaves behind too much of toxins for these souls to take in.