Doggone Etiquette—

The Social Season

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:

The social season is just beginning, with nicer days (we hope) for you to be outside with people. That’s another one of those two-way streets, nice to be outside, but also time for you to be nice to your VIPeople, their friends, relatives, the gardener — well, you get the idea. It’s time to brush up on your manners and show all those people (and your dog friends) just how “social” and socially acceptable you really are.

Think ahead — there’ll be food parties outdoors!

If you are a puppy and this is your first real home, you have an awful lot to learn in a very short time, but the lessons in how to be friendly and sociable will make you a very good dog.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:

Socializing a puppy is without a doubt the most important thing you can do for your puppy. It is especially important because it includes your family, friends and other person and dogs your puppy will come in contact with throughout its entire life. When exactly does this miracle training take place? Glad you asked. All in the first four months of a puppy’s life — just 16 weeks! It’s when a pup learns to trust, to feel safe in different places, with different people — little kids, tall men, people wearing sunglasses, funny hats — and of course other dogs.

If it sounds like a lot of work, I’d have to agree, but with a puppy it’s a fun job.

Sometimes it can be utterly amazing how quickly they respond to this variety of exposures. The pup may hear a phone or dishwasher for the first time and instead of trying to hide, he’ll stand perfectly still, maybe cocking his head, or give a bark. Be careful not to encourage any barking except during playtime. You’ll live to regret the time you said, “Oh, he’s talking, how cute!” If you’ve got kids, they need to be kept calm and relatively quiet during those first weeks. Screeching, yelling and racing around in play can come later, and with some breeds that would be much later.

When Puppy Rufus has had all his immunizations and can safely be out and about, let him meet other dogs and people both at home and away from home. This means it’s time to enter a kindergarten puppy training class where socialization is the primary goal. A common mistake first-time dog owners tend to make is to pull back on the dog’s leash as it goes to meet other dogs or people. That single action tells the dog in no uncertain terms that YOU are afraid, which means you have taught him to be aggressive (in order to defend you) when meeting people or dogs. Or he may have the opposite reaction and try to share your fear by hiding behind your legs.

There are two ways to prevent this. One is to have your dog meet people and dogs you know, and you know to be friendly and somewhat dog-oriented. Puppy Rufus will be on a loose lead.

People should crouch down, hand outstretched to let a small pup go to them. The other dog (on lead) should be told to sit or stand quietly and again let Puppy Rufus make the move to say hello. In case you’ve forgotten, this Hello is a total sniff routine. Dogs do not shake hands. You will not pull back on that lead! When he has learned to sit on command, that’s what you’ll ask him to do prior to a well-mannered greeting.

As for the adult dog, we are indeed approaching the time of year when socializing plays an important role for him, too. There will be picnics, barbeques and snacks eaten on the deck. People will drop by. A couple of barks to let you know friends have arrived are okay, but more than that is not. Jumping and racing around playing with the kids is fine as long as teeth don’t get into the act.

Jumping up to greet your guests is plain bad manners — and admittedly can be very difficult to teach short dogs not to do!

Polish up the dog’s manners that have been ignored or forgiven and make this spring and summer a social success for everyone.

                            

Until next time —BE GOOD!

—Bardi

Bardi McLennan’s book Puppy Care & Training (Howell Book House) is in its second edition and deals with this crucial stage of a dog’s life, giving you all the tools you need to keep your puppy healthy and turn him into a well-mannered member of your family. It is available in bookstores, online and in the CH Booth Library’s new section, Newtown Authors & Illustrators.

McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award last year.