Is your canine companion really enjoying the dog run? This is a question I wish people would ask themselves. More often than not, I see dogs cowering under a bench or clearly asking their person to leave, but instead of listening to their dog they push them, literally, farther into the pack.

Yes, dogs are pack animals, however, we must listen to what our dogs are telling us. Dog parks should not be used as a place for us to socialize with other people only to the detriment of our dogs. Some dogs are great with other dogs, some are not.

Early socialization in dogs plays a big role in a dog’s ability to interact with people and other dogs. Without these learned skills as a puppy, chances are your dog will not see going to the dog run as a fun activity but rather one to be frightened or nervous of. This can turn into aggression in your dog if not properly dealt with.

Tips for Socializing a Shy Dog

It takes patience to help your dog feel comfortable around other canines if your dog is shy and lacking social skills. Desensitizing a frightened dog is necessary if you’re to teach your canine companion to play with other dogs. Next we’ll look at some socializing tips.

To start with, find a friend’s dog that is calm and not overbearing with your dog for private play sessions in a quiet, safe environment, one without lots of noise.

Watch how the dogs interact. Is your pup approaching the other one willingly? Are they sniffing each other with relaxed body language? If your dog tells the friend to back off, does it?

Any dog that is timid needs to be around dogs that know how to play and will leave the scared dog alone.

Dogs have their own language and we must listen to what they are saying. Forcing a shy dog to be around other dogs that are running around, barking and having a great time can be very scary for a shy dog. This dog may get used to dogs playing and become curious on its own but often this is not the case.

Exposing a timid dog slowly to good experiences like being around a calm, well-socialized dog can sometimes bring it out of its shell. Just make sure you listen to what your dog is telling you and go at its own pace.

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