Can you over socialize a dog?
Hosea Spinka
2025-06-21 09:51:40
Count answers: 10
He’s had some issues with anxiety and shyness very young. With Covid happening we tried our best to work with our trainer and dog walker to introduce him to calm dogs and get him socialized to people. It worked great to the point he’s way more comfortable outside and way more with strangers. So then We started taking him to dog parks and he was a bit hesitant with the other dogs, but now he loves it. He wants to meet like EVERY dog on the street. To the point he would pull like crazy toward them barking and howling in desperation to meet. My question is did we over socialize him meeting way to many dogs and giving him the expectation that he gets to see and meet them all the time.
Pete Brakus
2025-06-21 08:34:25
Count answers: 13
Daycare can be a great tool, but people make the mistake of over socializing their dog to the point where they get sick of it and become reactive or even dog on dog aggressive. The more you keep bringing them, the chances of them getting confident and picking up these reactive dog behaviors increases. Some dogs it takes weeks of that for them to become reactive, some less, some not at all. More socialization is not the key. If you have a happy go lucky dog, then occasional interactions is all they need, more than once a week daycare I think can turn these types of dogs to be reactive. Sending them to daycare 5 times a week might turn them into a puddle and be more fear reactive, you have to find the right balance for the severity of your dog. The bottom line is you do not need to overdo socializing your pet, you should take your dog out and get them accumulated to dogs, people, new places, noises, etc. Again daycare is one of those great socialization tools, just don’t overdo it and have your plan backfire.