11/20/2024
For the record, canine socialization doesn’t look like human socialization. It’s not about getting a bunch of unfamiliar dogs in the same room and forcing them to interact, play, and compete for dominance.
Hell, humans have a tough enough time getting along, how can we expect our dogs to adapt to our definition of “socializing.”
I’ll admit, it’s hard not to get trapped in the pretty language and potential enjoyment of dropping your dog off at daycare, or bringing them to that new brewery that is dog-friendly, but what we have to learn is what *quality* socialization looks like.
Proper socialization means exposing dogs to different environments, and experiences, and showing them the proper ways to succeed. It’s not about saying hello to every dog or person you pass on your walk, and it’s not about making sure they “play enough” with other dogs. There are plenty of dogs out there that live perfectly happy lives with minimal interaction with other dogs or people. It’s not about the frequency of the interactions, it’s about the value. Quality over quantity.
The reason we have such concern about large-scale facilities is that (most) are undermanaged, chaotic, and generally unhealthy environments to teach our dogs how to interact and “play.” So many small moments are being missed while dogs learn to pattern forceful play or submissive behaviors. The biggest tiff we have is the shockingly high percentage of dogs that come to us for dog reactivity, aggression, fearfulness, etc. that were at one point daycare attendees. There’s a theme, and it’s been going on for years now.
Look, if your dog is one of the few that actually enjoys these environments, great, this message probably isn’t for you. But if you’ve got a dog that’s showing warning signs, take note, because perceptions can change faster than you think.
Daycare Facility Alternatives:
• Dog walker
• Bring-your-dog-to-work-day
• Small-scale daycare (not 25 dogs in a room with one employee)
• Trainer-daycare (ask your trainer if they offer daycare services)
A healthy environment has structure, supervision, rules, and order.
