10 Easy Things You Can Do To Help Your Dog Be More Social

1. Take Him Places.
Though I feel like this almost goes without saying, a dog who never seen anything but the backside of your fenceline, is more likely to develop behavioral issues.  If you knew someone who never left their house, you'd consider them to have a "condition" and perhaps want them to seek help for the fears and  anxieties this creates.  Why then, do we think this is an appropriate way to 'own' a dog?

If your dog doesn't like to be touched, label him/her.  Seriously.  It can be enormously helpful to put a t-shirt

or cape on your dog that says Do Not Pet when you take them in public.  This way, the dog can be a part of the world, without the world trying to come down on them.  This can build confidence, as well as make it much, much easier for you to work with the dog in public. 


2. Play With Her.
Remember when your cute puppy was all you thought about?  Or how cool your new adopted dog was?  How you went to the store and bought toys and brought them home to throw them all over the yard, or the park?   Take some time for play.  Play skills are vital for both social interaction in the dog's life, and for us.  Consider our dogs a fountain of youth.  They teach us the simple joys of just running around like a maniac, or chasing something, or rolling in the grass (fine, dead animals....whatever).  When we play, we activate centers in our brains that make us smarter, more balanced and more emotionally sound:  Give this to your dog.

3. Walk Him.
Exercise is key to having a well-balanced canine in your life.  When you control the walk, you control so many other aspects of your relationship with your dog.  What's that?  Your dog walks you?  Or can't handle walking past other dogs?  Look into a teacher who can show you how to strengthen that skill.  Not to mention, walking is good for you.  Isn't your doctor always harping on you to get outside and take a walk?

4. Have a Dinner Party.
If your dog is slightly socially inept (and I use the term 'slightly' here for a reason.  If your dog can't handle Humans at your house because of aggressive/protective issues, or extreme fears...go much slower and use a professional) a dinner party or a bar-b-que may be just the thing to help him overcome some of these issues.  People = good energy = food & fun = more relaxed dog.
Make sure you are controlling the interactions, which leads us to our next point.....

5. Leash Her.
Stop allowing your dog the freedom to make those poor social choices.  I can't tell you how many times I have gotten to a home and discovered that none of the dogs wear collars (EVER) and that no one ever stopped to think a leash may give you more control.  You may not need it forever, but taking charge of the dogs ability to run around your guests barking, or running away from the situation, might just be the ticket to helping your dog learn to enjoy having guests.
A leash also gives you the control to tell your guests that the dog isn't so good socially, and might need a special approach; or a complete lack of attention from the "invaders."

6. Take a Nap.
Giving your dog a place to relax when you have guests over is vital.  No matter how well adjusted your dog may be, sometimes too much is too much.  Putting your dog into a crate, or sectioning off a room just for them can allow them to be a part of it, without the overwhelming feeling of being right in the middle of it.  Some dogs may only need a bed in a corner to feel safe, while others may need a yummy stuffed Kong in a crate upstairs by himself with the radio on (in case you're wondering, that last one is my rescue guy). 

After successfully hanging out on a leash among the guests for a while, when I see he is beginning to relax and enjoy himself, his reward is that he gets to leave.  Seriously.  That's all he wants anyway, so when he learns to bring his mind into that state, I reward it. 

7. Cater to Who He Is, Right Now.
Know when too much is too much.  Forcing a dog past what he can handle is not therapy; it only compounds what your dog believes to be true:  That being social is frightening.  Always have an exit plan.  Some dogs do need a bit of flooding, but some do not; knowing the difference is important to helping your dog grow.  
If it's not working, as in, you are not seeing progress with the method you are using (and sometimes, the progress can be subtle and slow) examine whether or not that method is appropriate for your dog.

8. Get Her Groomed.
Finding a kind, sweet understanding groomer to handle your dog (even shorthairs) can help them realize other humans do not mean them any harm.  The experience of grooming can make your dog feel better in some cases.  Again, I caution that if your dog suffers from extreme anxiety about being groomed, talk with your vet about perhaps taking measures to sedate the animal to have it groomed.  No sense causing more anxiety right?

9. Hang Out With Your Vet.
Most of us don't bother to see a doctor until there's a problem, but just like Humans, a well-check is a great way to know your dogs' baseline health, and an excellent opportunity for your vet to hang with your dog while not doing scary things.
Spending time in your vet's waiting room, without an appointment, can also help alleviate some of the nervousness our dogs sometimes feel when they go there.
Talk with your vet first, and find out a good time to hang out and practice good behaviors in the waiting room.  Building a good rapport with the building, the staff, and the vet are all vital to keeping your dog balanced and happy with the experience.

10. Remember, Love is Not Enough.
Dogs don't need our love the way we need to love them.  It feels fantastic to "rescue" a dog, or to cuddle a new puppy, but without meeting their basic needs as a pack animal, we fall short.  Providing structure, leadership and exercise are all more important to a dog's well-being and social balance, then our love can ever be.