Socialising helps your dog understand how to react to the world in a healthy manner, while decreasing fear or aggression. It will also help your dog avoid feelings of loneliness and increase their sense of happiness and well-being, leading to a healthier, longer life.
Some of the benefits of socialising your dog include :
1. Builds confidence & a sense of secureness in your dog
Socialising your dog helps in developing new and favourable behaviours. The positive reinforcement and experiences your dog receives with each new interaction will help increase their confidence and result in a well-behaved dog. These experiences can be anything from having your dog interact with the neighbours, meeting other dogs on walks, or visits to the dog park.
2. Dogs that are socialised are less likely to run away from home
A runaway pet is every pet parent’s worst nightmare. Dogs that aren’t socialised are often fearful of new environments or situations. If they escape from the house, they tend to panic and run away in desperate search of comfort and security. They are also less likely to approach strangers that try to help them.
Therefore, it’s extremely important to socialise your pets, so they adjust well to their surroundings and your neighbours. This greatly reduces their chances of running away. Positive experiences and activities like meeting new people and regular walks in the neighbourhood can ease their anxiety and prevent the worst from happening.
3. Helps dogs easily adapt to new situations, especially a visit to the vet
Socialising also helps your dog adapt to new situations with ease. This is extremely important and useful, especially if you are someone that travels a lot with your dog or you have to take your dog to the vet. Exposing them to new situations will reassure them and give them the confidence to remain calm and relaxed while visiting new and unfamiliar places, knowing that you’ve got their back.
4. Helps improve your dog’s mental & emotional health
Socialisation is vital for your dog’s mental and social development. Just like humans, lack of proper socialisation can increase your dog’s chances of experiencing canine depression. This can include a decrease in their appetite and activities. It can also lead to other behavioural concerns unrelated to health issues like sleeping more often than usual, excessively licking their paws, reluctance to engage in playful activities, and more.
Therefore, it is important for your dog to learn how to make friends and interact with other animals and people. Also make sure you expose your dog to fresh air and sunshine as much as possible.
5. Enhances their physical well-being
Dogs who get plenty of quality interactions with other animals and people tend to lead healthier and happier lives. If your dog is nervous and anxious about an encounter, they will spend less time having fun and more time feeling stressed out. This is because a dog that plays a lot and is well exercised is more content and relaxed, which makes it easier for them to regulate their temperament and energy levels.
