Building community for our dogs

We are often told the importance of building community for ourselves to keep us connected as well as maintain good mental and emotional health. This is such an important thing we can do for our dogs too.

When we welcome dogs into our home, whether it’s a new puppy or a rescue dog, the way we socialise them can be overwhelming and challenging for them. Outdated training advice tells us to expose them to lots of dogs and people in a short window of time. Being exposed to new and unfamiliar dogs too often, or too soon, creates dysregulation in the nervous system and can increase stress, fear and anxiety for our dogs.

If we change the lens from having to socialise them to instead building a safe, predictable social group around them we give them the opportunity to learn and be comfortable around others in a way that feels good. Regular exposure to their friend group allows them to learn and practice social skills, recognise and read calming signals and enjoy being around others without fear.

Being thoughtful and managing dog to dog interactions at the beginning of their journey can look like meeting new friends one at a time and engaging in things they enjoy together—social walks, enrichment activities, play time or just simply spending time together. Having a variety of ages in their friend group means they learn different skills from these role models. In time when they are out and about in the world they now have the skills to cope when meeting new friends or encountering dogs they don’t know.

We would love to hear about your dogs’ community, what do they most enjoy doing together?

Helen Moore

The Regulated Canine Community

PDTE Secretary