What happens if you don't socialize your dog?
Kennedi Boyer
2025-06-24 07:36:15
Count answers: 14
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 and fear can lead to aggression, so while an animal might seem angry, they might actually just be plain scared. 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. These pets experience a tremendous amount of anxiety over anything that’s new. 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. So under-socialized dogs and cats will resist going for walks or meeting new people.
Nash Rosenbaum
2025-06-24 04:54:34
Count answers: 13
Letting your pup play longer than 20 minutes could cause them to find other dogs more fun than you, leading to reactivity and lack of attention to the handler. Believe me specially if you have a big breed you don’t want a 50 + lbs puppy dragging you down the street because they’re too excited to see another dog. When I let my puppy play with the dog that lives with us every day he became obsessed. It took months of training and hard work to be able to get his attention around other dogs and for him to stop barking and demanding to meet dogs when we passed them in the street. You should be the most fun thing for your pup not other dogs.
Arielle Bode
2025-06-24 04:44:21
Count answers: 7
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. 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.