What happens if you never socialize a dog?
Nathaniel Greenfelder
2025-06-21 11:23:51
Count answers: 5
Not exposing your animal to a variety of other pets increases your chances that your critter will grow up to not appreciate other animals’ company. Without early socialization, innocent play can easily turn into a fight. Discomfort Around Humans can also be a result of not socializing your pet. Your pet also needs to be introduced to a wide variety of people. Believe it or not, those things can seem scary to an animal without proper socialization. A reactive pet that is in aggressive attack mode might simply be under-socialized and not have the right skills to handle what they consider stressful situations. Instead of running away, these pets act defensively in reaction to whatever is frightening them, whether that be a person, another animal or a motorcycle. Unfortunately if this socialization doesn’t occur, small things can set them off. Even seemingly benign things like shopping carts can make these animals cower and run away. Dogs and cats without proper socialization tend to have very small worlds. Going outside is full of so many new people, places and things that it’s simply too scary for them to leave the house.
Gerry Maggio
2025-06-21 10:20:35
Count answers: 9
Forcing him to meet someone he’s tentative to approach might actually backfire and reinforce any underlying fear. Similarly, plopping him in the middle of a sandpit when he’s only been on grass might cause undue stress. You can avoid the dangers of under-socialization with a well-constructed plan that addresses all of these potential problem areas. Although it’s critical to expose your puppy to new environments, avoid areas with porous ground where many unfamiliar dogs go, like parks, during the early stages of socialization. The secret to socialization success is to make sure that it’s always a positive experience for your puppy. Work through your puppy’s socialization checklist slowly, always allowing your pup to move at his own pace, and always making sure that he has an escape route from the action should he need it.