Trainer Tip: Successful Off-Leash Socializing

Whoo! No more Winter Hibernation! For many of us dog owners, this makes the outdoors a much more inviting place.  Our dogs must inwardly inwardly rejoice when the sun shines, knowing that trips to the park, games of fetch and walks galore are likely to get a little longer.

If the sunshine means more trips to the dog park for you and your dog, then it's important to understand some of the Dos and Don'ts of doggie socialization.

Not All Dogs Like The Dog Park 

It is not unusual for dogs to become a bit more selective about playmates as they mature. This means that some dogs will have less stressful social experiences when playing with a canine buddy or two, rather than a pack pooches.  Plenty of dogs would just as soon play with you, go for a jog or a swim than enter the canine mosh pit. 

Happy Play = Loose + Wiggly + Balanced  

You should see play bows, paw lifts, equally matched wrestling and chasing to invite and continue playtime.  You might also hear yips and snarks to let a dog know when play is too rough.  You should see dogs backing off when a buddy says, "Ouch!", and frequent breaks in the activity.  It's important to consider just how jazzed up your dog is getting.  Does he check in with you?  Can you call him or redirect his attention? 

If your pet seems tense and alert upon approaching another dog, keep it short or skip it. When you want to call your dog to you, soften your tone, kneel, and angle slightly away from her. This "invitation" is less confrontational and more likely to get the desired response. Now you and your pup are talking the same language, and better communication strengthens the human-dog relationship!

Rude, Dude
Mobbing, teasing, and bullying...a group chasing and cornering one dog, or relentless barking and nipping at a dog that clearly isn't interested.  Yes, even the sweetest pooch can engage in mob mentality! Whether your dog is playing, bullying or being bullied, frequent and calm time-outs are essential to your dog's well-being. Should you feel that your dog isn't playing well with others, then leave the park and find another activity. 

Convenience For You or Fun For Fido?

If your dog is hiding, fighting, avoiding contact with other dogs then consider why you go.  Did you skip training your dog to walk well on leash, to come when called or to play nicely with you?  Is this your time to catch up on texts and emails?  How about some positive training time with your dog, perhaps taking a class or enjoying something fun together?  Set your dog up for successful social interactions...your pooch will thank you!

dog dog interaction

Navigating the waters of off leash dog play can range from being easy breezy to socially awkward or embarrassing depending on your relationship with your dog.

Relationship with your dog, wha?

Yep, your relationship with your dog can in many cases influence their behavior off leash. Do you set any boundaries? Do you have clear communication or consequences (times outs or leaving the park)? How do they enter a place like a dog park- like a freight train or tail tucked having to be coaxed inside the holding area?

Dog parks have often sparked controversy. They are mostly great for very tolerant dogs, afterall, it's a never ending cocktail party, sometimes with very limited space. If the drinks aren't great, and the dogs at the party aren't your dog's cup of tea, that's fine, hit the road.

If you find yourself with a wall flower or a dog that appears to prefer the human social scene, that's okay. Scan the dog to see if the DOG is having fun or if they appear stressed. Common stress signals include: more than normal panting, pacing, sniffing the ground or body language that appears "shut down"- tail tucked, ears plastered, body hunched. No number of Cosmos is going to work with this dog, perhaps find some size appropriate play mates and an meet up at off peak times at the park.

If on the other hand, you find you have the rowdy rover at the park, that's tenderizing Bichons or "he's just trying to play", the crux of the problem is that if it doens't look relaxed- it ain't. Or, if your dog doesn't read cut off signals from other dogs (head turning, sniffing, avoidance) and still is coming at them to "play", that's when human intervention IS needed.

Really, is his just trying to play? Don't think so. Mom? Dad? Where are you?

In an ideal canine-human relationship, dogs will look to their owners to determine how to react. If you feel like you have "no signal", connection or little control with your dog, I'd take a step back and look at what you can to do cultivate a connection.
If you abide by the "let them work it out" mentality, that can work, but it depends on the other owner's idea about what's play and what's "aggressive". Trust me, it can get very sticky before your dog is even IN the park!

And sometimes, you have ultra sensitive dog owners that expect that your 80 lb dog should be able to play football or dance ballet with their very small dog. It's not that we don't like our small dogs folks, but just as the big boys need size appropriate play mates, so do the little guys. And not everybody at the party always picks on someone their own size! It's just as important for small dog owners to be aware that their dog could look like running prey and therefore larger dogs are practicing prey sequences- stalk, chase, muzzle tap. Just be aware and protect your own dog as well.

So back to navigating this dog eat dog world. Here are my words of advice: Be proactive; be sensitive and watch the body language of other dogs (and their owners); cut your losses and leave before you outstay your welcome; don't be afraid to have rules and boundaries. After all, clear communication can be the key to cultivating a connection.