"My dog hates other dogs!" This is a frequently heard complaint. Let´s look at some different situations:
- Does your dog get upset when you go out to a public place, such as a dog park? Perhaps, dog parks are not a good location for your dog. If you want to be social with your dog, you could consider obedience classes or agility training. Either situation involves socializing with other dogs, but in a well-controlled environment. In addition, since you are interacting with your dog one-on-one and reinforcing your control over the situation, your dog may be able to relax and stop "defending you" from these unknown dogs.
- While a dog park might be a bad idea for your pet, you could consider doggie daycare. Dog daycare facilities are more controlled than dog parks. The staff is there to enforce hierarchy, to keep the animals busy, and out of trouble. When you´re selecting a doggie daycare, you should take the same steps that you would in selecting childcare:
- Visit the facility before you bring your dog. Ask questions, look around, smell around, and evaluate the conditions of the facility. Is there a vet close by or on-site?
- Find out how the staff is trained. Watch the staff in action with the pups. Ask them what worst-case scenarios occur and how staff members are trained to handle those scenarios.
- Find out what their standards are when playing with the dogs and providing food, snacks, and water.
- Speak to other pooch parents, offsite if possible, whether they are happy with their day care. Are they a repeating customer? Does their dog come home happy and a little exhausted? A dog that is playing and getting interaction in a controlled environment is more than likely a happy dog.
- Find out how the staff is trained. Watch the staff in action with the pups. Ask them what worst-case scenarios occur and how staff members are trained to handle those scenarios.
- Visit the facility before you bring your dog. Ask questions, look around, smell around, and evaluate the conditions of the facility. Is there a vet close by or on-site?
- While a dog park might be a bad idea for your pet, you could consider doggie daycare. Dog daycare facilities are more controlled than dog parks. The staff is there to enforce hierarchy, to keep the animals busy, and out of trouble. When you´re selecting a doggie daycare, you should take the same steps that you would in selecting childcare:
- Are you hoping to hang out with a friend and their dog? It might be a good idea to have your dog meet the other dog on neutral ground with both leashed. The dogs can be safely acquainted without any territorial issues. Once the dogs know and are familiar with each other, you can try introducing the dogs to each other´s space.
Your dog may never be able to socialize with more than one dog at a time and conditioning them to be social with dogs may take a while accomplish. In addition, muzzles might be a good idea until you know how the two dogs truly will get along.
