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How to Socialise Your Puppy Around Dogs
- Anthony Lennard
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
In the last post, we looked at my recommended rules for socialising your puppy, now let's look at how to apply them when it comes to other dogs.
When it comes to socialising your puppy around dogs, quality is far more important than quantity. The goal isn’t to raise a dog who wants to greet every dog they see. It’s to raise a dog who can remain calm, read body language appropriately and cope comfortably in the presence of other dogs.
How to Socialise Your Puppy Around Dogs
When it comes to socialising your puppy around dogs, quality is much more important than quantity. The ideal end goal is that your puppy grows into a dog who is calm and relaxed around other dogs and is able to read their body language correctly, acting accordingly.
Whilst that sounds easy, it can be tricky at first.
To get started, if you know of any calm, older dogs (fully vaccinated) these are usually good first encounters to arrange. Usually starting in your garden or a quiet park, is a good location to use (this obviously depends on your puppy’s vaccinations). Both dogs should be kept on leads/longlines and allowed to approach if they choose. Your puppy is likely to be nervous at first, so keeping interactions short with regular breaks is ideal (this is a must for the older dog too).
When it comes to dogs on walks, initially choose times to walk your puppy when it’s relatively quiet to avoid overwhelming them. Allow your puppy to watch without approaching at first, this a good idea to let them realise that other dogs exist without being approached - this is key part of learning to not say hello to other dogs.
As your puppy becomes more confident and relaxed, you can start to get closer to other dogs. At this point, I recommend reviewing the body language part and applying this to other dogs. If the other dog appears unsure, stiff or reluctant to engage - it’s usually best to avoid them (this goes for the owner too).
When it comes to interactions, try to keep them short (3 - 5 seconds) even if the interaction is going well, it can become too overwhelming to your puppy very quickly. So ending the interaction whilst it's going well is usually best - even if it seems counterintuitive.
Remember to aim for quality interactions instead of lots of random, unpredictable ones - these can make your puppy unsure/nervous going forward.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Only socialising with other puppies
While puppy classes and puppy playdates can be useful, only socialising with other puppies can limit learning. Puppies benefit from observing and interacting with calm, well-socialised adult dogs who can model appropriate behaviour. A mix of experiences is far more valuable than puppy-only interactions.
Play, play, play
Play is often seen as the goal of dog socialisation, but constant play can lead to over-arousal and frustration. Puppies don’t need to play with every dog they meet. Learning to calmly coexist, observe and disengage is just as important — and often more beneficial in the long term.
Too much freedom
Giving puppies too much freedom too soon can be overwhelming. Busy parks, off-lead areas or unstructured interactions can make it difficult for a puppy to process what’s happening. Structured, short and supported experiences help puppies feel safe and allow learning to happen without stress.
Letting them be “told off” by another dog
It’s a common belief that older dogs should “tell puppies off” to teach them manners. While calm adult dogs may offer appropriate feedback, harsh corrections can be frightening and damaging, especially for young puppies. Socialisation should always prioritise emotional safety and positive associations.
SUMMARY
Socialising your puppy with other dogs isn’t about creating a social butterfly. It’s about raising a dog who is able to read other dogs body language, navigate social situations and cope when in the presence of other dogs.
Helping your puppy become that type of dog isn’t something that happens overnight, it takes lots of interactions, learning and time to achieve. It also requires owners who know what they are aiming for and how to implement it.
Quality over quantity, short-interactions and realistic expectations, will go a long way to achieving the above.
In the next post, we will look at how to socialise your puppy around people (it’s pretty similar to dogs).
