No matter the reason why your furry family member was not socialized as a puppy, it doesn’t mean they can’t learn how to behave around others and gain BFFFs. Some say, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” but that’s not true. When socializing an older dog, the key to success is repetition and consistency. Be patient and don’t get discouraged if they don’t catch on right away, as it can take a much longer time for older dogs to adapt to new situations and environments. Take your dog for frequent walks. Daily walks are great opportunities to expose your dog to new sights, sounds, smells, humans, and animals. With each new experience, be sure to create a calm, loving environment with lots of positive reinforcement, and you will have a happy, confident, and well-balanced dog in no time. Turn to professionals If your dog is not responding well to your methods, contact a professional trainer or consider taking them to a doggie daycare setting like Dogtopia.