A lot of us don’t really know what makes for successful interactions with dog-friends vs a play date that ends in “we probably won’t be doing that again…” so here’s 4 tips we’ve learned over the years!
1. Meeting inside the house for the first time
Homes are personal territory and dogs are very aware of their turf and who’s crossing it. Some dogs are very casual and unbothered in this department, but not all! We suggest going for a group walk as the first “meeting”, as this is a neutral activity in a neutral location, and isn’t immediately confrontational or personal. The dogs DO NOT have to greet each other on this walk. The point is proximity, activity, and neutrality.
2. Not putting away toys, beds, and food
Again, these things have personal attachment and meaning to them and a lot of dogs are not their best selves when having to share personal property, belongings, or special privileges. So put away that favourite squeaky toy and don’t leave their cozy bed out for other dogs to sleep in 😉
3. Not putting limits on the play when energy gets too high
Play dates almost always get too exciting, where one of both parties start to escalate to almost doing something they shouldn’t because they’re so hyped up. This is why it’s important to do frequent breaks where both dogs are told to sit or lay down (if they have to be leashed beside their owner, that works too), to calm down and collect themselves. This is an excellent practice that should be implemented CONSTANTLY during play dates.
4. Obsessing over quantity over quality
There’s this unnecessary rush that’s been put on socialization with puppies and it’s built up a bit of a panic that your dog needs to have met and played with dozens of dogs to be “well-socialized”. This is not the case. If the only thing driving their socialization is numbers, the quality of the socialization isn’t going to be good, and the lasting impression of how to behave and perceive outside dogs in general is going to be unbalanced and learn toward reactivity, defensiveness, etc.
One or two calm dog friends is going to be way better than a dozen unhinged, crazy-making demons-I mean dogs 😉🫠😂
We hope this tips help your next doggy playdate be pawsitively awesome! (Yep, bad pun--but it was expected, and I couldn't let the fans down, lol)
The RLD Team
Komentarai