Just You and Your Dog: Socializing in the Real World

Did you know that when asked, most dog guardians said they wanted to be more social or have more social experiences with their dogs? When I came across this delightful tidbit while doing market research, I was thrilled! Why? Because it confirmed what I'd been seeing for the past few years. People want to go places and do things WITH their dogs. This differs slightly from going to the pet store to pick up dog food. Dog guardians are looking for places to have shared experiences with their canine companions. And guess what? Dogs are just as excited to spend more social time with their guardians. The question is, where can you take your furry friend to have that shared experience? That depends on you and your dog.

Some places are just right for people but challenging for many dogs. Retail shopping trips fall into that category. When we take our furry friend to a pet store or any store, we need to be aware that those places were designed for humans. Our canine companions don’t experience fluorescent lighting, linoleum or cement flooring, strangers, shopping carts, and aisles full of products the same way we do. Retail shopping is as foreign to most dogs as the international space station would be for most humans. Does that mean people shouldn’t take their dogs to the pet store with them? Not at all. It just means that the two of you experience that environment differently. As your dog’s guardian, it’s up to you to know how your dog is doing and when it might be too much for her. I rarely see dogs out in the real world with their guardian who are actually enjoying themselves. When I watch dogs at local retail stores, I see dogs displaying behaviors that tell me they dog are having a hard time. These include panting, scanning the environment, jerky movements (moving slowly then speeding up), “busy ears” (ears move forward then backward), tails lowered or very high, lip licking, closed mouths, and furrowed brows. This tells me the dog is not having a great time. If I asked people if their dog enjoys going to the store, most people say yes.

“My dog loves going to the store with me! Whenever I get the leash out and take him to the car, his tail is wagging like crazy. He loves car rides!” I believe you. Many dogs do love car rides. But that happy face and wagging tail may signal that what he loves is being with you rather than being home alone. A different outing would be more enjoyable if your dog shows stress signals. Let’s look at a few options.

The Great Outdoors

There is no substitute for time spent in the great outdoors. The vast majority of pet dogs spend most of their days inside the house. How weird that is from your dog’s perspective. What breed or breed mix of dog was bred to live their lives indoors? Toy dogs come the closest to fitting that description. This means most dogs crave time outdoors to explore, sniff, jump, climb, sunbathe, taste, watch, and chase. There is strong evidence that time spent outdoors helps improve cognitive function and self-regulation. In other words, when we take our dogs on a nature adventure, we help them have better well-being. We’re helping ourselves, too. When I’ve spent time tramping through the woods or exploring a hiking trail with my dogs, I know we all feel better. We are more relaxed. We respond to things more calmly. My dogs are more willing to comply with my requests. I’m more likely to laugh at their antics rather than feel frazzled. In other words, the great outdoors is amazingly healing for our and our dog’s internal state.

While getting outside sounds great, it can be challenging. You may not live in an area with access to safe outdoor places for your dogs to explore. Or you may have a dog who is fearful or reactive, making outdoor exploring more stressful than calming. Wouldn’t it be great if there were other options? Well, there are!

Group Dog Training Classes

Group dog training classes can be fun for both human and canine. But they’re not for everyone. Some people don’t enjoy going to group dog classes. It can be loud. It can also be frustrating. Group classes aren’t for every dog, either. If you and your dog both enjoy going to classes, then explore them all – tricks, nosework, parkour, barn hunt – there are so many fun options out there. But fun is the keyword. A really great group class is a safe space where everyone – human and canine – enjoys their time there. What if you or your dog just aren’t into group classes? I hear you! Most of my dogs have not really enjoyed group classes, so we’ve opted for other activities that meet our mutual need for social time together.

SniffSpots

Dogs need regular off-leash time for their well-being. Off-leash time in safe spaces allows them to move naturally and practice species-specific behaviors. It also allows guardians to enjoy their dog without worrying about leash manners, other dogs, or other people. It’s just you and your dog enjoying the space together. SniffSpot has become my go-to place for off-leash, outdoor fun with my dogs in the past few years. What I love most about SniffSpot is that I can find a place where I’m confident my dogs will have a good experience without running into other people or dogs. Our current favorite spot is a 15-acre, fully fenced area with trees, open field, a small creek, and large pond. We frolic, play hide-and-seek, chase, and take time to sit under the trees and watch the world. It is a fantastic retreat from our daily life. We are calm and relaxed when we leave, and the girls are ready for a nap. SniffSpot is a free app you can download. Then you can explore the SniffSpots in your area to find fun new places for you and your dog to explore together.

Enrichment Centers and Doggie Gyms

Enrichment centers and Doggie gyms are popping up all over the country. Why? Dog guardians are hungry for safe indoor spaces where their dogs can do doggie things like sniff, zoom, dig, and play. For people and dogs who have had negative, or even tragic, experiences at dog parks or public parks, enrichment centers and doggie gyms have become trusted places for fun. At The Learning Dog Academy’s Behavior & Enrichment Center, dog guardians can reserve the entire facility for their dog. All dogs are welcome! We cater to fearful, anxious, or reactive dogs and have safety protocols in place to ensure every dog (and their guardian) feels safe during playtime. Knowing the importance of outdoor exploration, we brought a bit of nature inside. There’s an indoor garden that’s safe for sniffing and munching. And we have an indoor mini-pond surrounded by tree stumps. Our tagline – learn together, play together, stay together – embodies our belief that when we spend time with, when we are social with, our canine companions, our lives, and theirs, are better.

Most dog guardians want more ways to spend social time with their dogs. And dogs everywhere are shouting, “Yes!” because they, too, want to spend more time with their guardians. Social time out in the wide world is a unique experience for every dog and dog guardian. And lucky for us and our dogs, the options for being social together are growing!