We bring pets into our homes to be our companions and part of our families. We think they’ll just automatically go along with whatever the existing social norms and routines are in our homes. But did you know that dogs and cats actually need socialization? They are social creatures, like we are, and they also need to be around other people and animals.
What does positive socialization do for pets?
You wouldn’t get a pet and then not feed it or give it water, right? Of course not! You want your pet to be happy and healthy and have everything they need. And that includes play time, walks, and even socialization. Both dogs and cats need to spend time with humans to pick up on social norms and become part of the group. And, it’s important for dogs especially to have positive experiences interacting with other dogs, as well. These socialization experiences are just as much part of meeting their needs as giving them food and water and a warm, dry home.
A lack of socialization can lead pets to become either very aggressive or very avoidant.
We’ve all seen dogs at the dog park who are terrified of other dogs or people. When animals are afraid, they can overcompensate for that fear with aggression. We’ve all seen this happen in humans, as well as in the animal kingdom. No one wants to have an aggressive pet living in their home, but that can happen if pets aren’t given positive socialization early on.
At the other end of the spectrum, pets can also become very scared and avoidant. This can lead to anxiety and a host of other problems for you and your pet. They can hide, bark or hiss excessively, and just become scared to be around people and other animals.
Avoiding negative socialization experiences.
We’ve all heard stories about dogs who are only scared of really tall men or women with grey hair or some other oddly specific trait. Unfortunately, some animals develop such responses after abuse or poor treatment. Even poor socialization that doesn’t reach the level of abuse or neglect can affect a pet’s socialization and development. It’s important to help your pet avoid such negative associations, or to help them overcome them once they do develop.
Dogs & cats need socialization from early on, as puppies and kittens.
It’s important to socialize your pet from as early on as possible. Doing so has been shown to help decrease your pet’s fear and anxiety of new people and places. When pets have less fear and anxiety, they are less likely to become either aggressive or avoidant.
Socializing early on can even help your pet learn better sleeping and eating habits, which makes them easier for everyone to live with. You may not be emotionally ready to leave them with a dog walker or pet sitter, but it might help them become calmer and more attuned to social norms.