We Can’t All Be Social Butterflies
We all want our dogs to play nice with other dogs—and shouldn’t it come naturally? Dogs are social, after all. So why does an otherwise sweet-natured canine buddy turn into a killjoy at the park? Well, dogs can be introverts, too. Like humans, they can have bad days and they occasionally form instant dislikes to new dogs. But where we get to choose our friends and are free to avoid anyone we can’t stand, dogs pretty much have to go wherever we take them. What’s more, they are territorial creatures, protective of their favorite things, their home turf, and us. Adding another dog to the equation, familiar or not, always holds the potential for fireworks.
Why are some dogs more social than others? Genetics play a role, and so does early socialization. Here, too, the human analogy is apt. Some of us come out of the womb gregarious, others are born shy and unsure of how to negotiate the dynamics of social groups. We also are greatly affected by our earliest experiences. An otherwise confident and social child finding herself the target of bullies on the playground could be forever changed as a result. Similarly, dogs are the sum of their parts: DNA and experiences thrown into a pot. Some herding or hunting breeds, for example, were bred for the ability to work independently and might find playtime at the park a monumental waste of time. And many dogs raised during the pandemic missed out on their chance to build early social skills.
If a dog’s anti-social tendencies go beyond polite disinterest, positive training is an option. Working through a program to build positive associations to other dogs using rewards and comfortable distances can greatly improve relations between a dog and her peers. But if a dog is civil to most dogs, but doesn’t play or gets grumpy when approached by bouncy youngsters, a bit of situational awareness might be all that’s needed: favoring open spaces and less-busy trails for walks, crossing the street if there isn’t room to circumnavigate another dog on a sidewalk, etc. After all, why shouldn’t dogs be allowed to be who they really are?