When Dogs are Playing

I get a tremendous amount of calls to help dogs that don't interact well with other dogs. While a lot of people often assume poor social skills come from past bad interactions with other dogs (fights, etc.), I'm finding that most actually stem from something completely different. While socialization is a very popular buzz-word, there must be more to socialization than simple interactions alone. What is your dog learning when it's interacting with other dogs?

I feel very strongly that in our society over the past several decades, dog owners have come to embrace the concept that dogs MUST spend time around other dogs to live a happy, healthy life. If we start with that premise, I would simply counter that there are some dogs that aren't particularly interested in other dogs. Many would much rather spend time with an owner or people. There's nothing wrong with dogs that are more people oriented - it's actually a great trait to have in a pet IMO. If your dog isn't interested in other dogs, forcing interactions isn't really a good idea. Knowing your dog is the start of building a strong relationship.

As to the dogs that do like time around other dogs, there's certainly nothing wrong with that either. However, the key is teaching your dog to be mannered around other dogs. This is where many owners are letting their dogs down in a big way. When I watch interactions between dogs, I'm always focused on the energy level. Normal and mannered play has dips and peeks. Some dogs, however, don't really have an innate ability to self regulate themselves. When these dogs engage with another dog, their energy begins rising very fast and very steadily. Things can go from simple running/chasing, "jaw wrestling", and subtle interactions, to diving on top of another dog, unrelenting chases, pinning another dog to the ground, humping, and more. These "rough" and ill-mannered behaviors should be stopped immediately.

Unfortunately, many owners in our current culture often think those behaviors are perfectly normal. They're not! Dogs that are allowed to be overly rough, and who's energy level is allowed to escalate unchecked, are only learning that being around other dogs is a free-for-all. In short order these behaviors lead to more excited, agitated, and often aggressive behaviors. An owner simply wanting to go for a calm walk with these dogs can face severe challenges as their dog become highly reactive (lunging, barking, growling, etc) simply at the sight of another dog in the area.

So for today, I'd like to suggest owners consider what they're allowing and teaching their dog(s) when interacting with other dogs. Bad interactive behavior is almost always learned IMO. Teaching your dog to be mannered around other dogs will help him/her enjoy a much better life.