Socializing your Animal

We had a houseguest this weekend. His name is Riley the Bichon, and he's pretty cute:

I am thankful to have an animal who tolerates, and even enjoys other animals. We have lots of other people's animals coming in and out of the house from time to time, so it's nice that I don't have to worry about any type of aggressive behavior or possessiveness on Sawyer's part. 

I cannot stress the importance of socializing your dog from a very young age. I have seen too many pet owners who are dictated by a dog who isn't the most friendly around other animals. That all could be solved with proper socialization.

The best way to socialize your puppy, is to expose them to other animals in a controlled environment. Remember those walks Sawyer and I take every day? Well, there are tons of other people out there with their animals as well. All are on leashes. Here is how you conduct a proper meet and greet.

1. Make your animal sit (nothing is going to get accomplished if your dog is lunging, barking or otherwise out of control when you approach another animal).

2. Ask the other pet owner if their dog is friendly. If so, ask if your dog can say hi. Keep your dog in a firm sit during this exchange.

3. Let the two animals sniff each other. Don't let either of the animals jump on each other, and pay close attention to their body language. Make sure tails are wagging and that their fur isn't standing on end.

4. Above all else, remain calm. Your animal feeds off of your energy. If you are tense or nervous, your dog will pick up on that immediately and might even act out of fear or nervousness. Take a deep breath and calm down. 

Hope this helps,