When you think of socializing your dog, you may automatically imagine a fun afternoon watching your dog run and chase other dogs. Since autumn is just around the corner, maybe all the dogs are jumping a big pile of leaves. It’s a nostalgic and charming image. But play time isn’t the only goal for socialization. Teaching your dog socialization is a matter of equipping them with the skills they need to calmly respond to stimulus and day-to-day interactions in the world we share. Socialization as it relates to Sound We all know some dogs are prone to be sensitive to loud sounds — the vacuum cleaner is a machine that causes chaos or perhaps even the door bell creates anxiety. Normal household sounds are part of life and your dog needs the socialization skills to deal with them. Training them to tolerate sounds not only creates a calmer scenario for you, but helps them understand that they aren’t being threatened. Socialization as it relates to Surfaces We take different textures for granted and for most of us, we’re used to walking on concrete, gravel, grass, etc. But imagine for a moment you’re a dog that’s facing a staircase for the first time. What do you do? Dogs need confidence to address surfaces that may be unfamiliar to them. Socialization training will help your dog to confidently explore new textures and feel safe in the process. Socialization as it relates to Other Animals A friend of mine has a dog that just loves other animals, but unfortunately, that is not always reciprocated. Nor is it always safe. Just ask my friend who has had to give multiple baths to her dog after he was sprayed by skunks (twice in a week!). Your dog may be curious about squirrels, rabbits, cats, ducks, or even other dogs. That curiosity may be as simple as “I want to sniff you,” or it may be a trigger for a prey drive. Either way, there’s an appropriate way dogs should engage with other animals and that’s learned through socialization. Socialization as it relates to Weather Wind and rain can be confusing and even scary to dogs; and all dogs respond to weather differently. For some, potty habits may be dismissed all together if it means she has to put her feet in wet grass. Socializing your dog in all kinds of weather is important so they can be comfortable. Because wet grass or not, we need her to go potty! Socialization as it relates to Automobiles Dogs need to be comfortable with cars passing by, or even when person walking or riding a bicycle goes by. Not every car needs to be chased and certainly, we don’t want our dogs to be fearful or get hurt. Cars are all around us, and we need to socialize our dogs to address movement so that they can be safe and comfortable. Socialization as it relates to Every Day Situations Every family has routine and different situations that our dogs need to learn and be comfortable with. We need to expose them to life, including the aforementioned cars, as well as lawn mowers, gardening, the Amazon fairy, etc. Training your dog to socialize into your lifestyle creates a win-win for everyone in the family. Socialization for a dog is defined as environmental exposure with a positive association and a goal of neutrality and is a big part of our training method. Remember, the goal is not to make the dog like everyone or everything. The goal is to help them cope with their feelings when around and with the things they don’t like or are fearful of, and not become overstimulated by the things they do like.

August is National Dog Month, aka DOGust ! It’s a time to celebrate the bond with man’s best friend… Dogs play an important role in our lives and as our dependence on them grows, you may be wondering about the different labels that dogs wear these days: service dogs versus therapy dogs versus emotional support dogs. What’s the difference? Service Dogs Service dogs are trained to work with people with specific disabilities. The most recognizable service dog would be a seeing eye dog, keeping his or her blind owner safe as they navigate the world. However, service dogs work with various issues — physical as well as sensory, psychiatric, or intellectual disabilities. Service dogs are bred, and often selected as puppies for specific training. They are trained for months, and even years, to learn precise tasks to support their human, with training specialized to meet specific needs of the individual. They are legally allowed to go anywhere the general public is permitted thanks to protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). But even those bred and selected for service dog work won’t always make the cut. Often, those intended service dogs end up becoming therapy dogs or pets. There are an estimated 500,000 working service dogs currently in the United States. Due to the specialized training involved with service dogs, the waiting list is long and the costs are high — ranging between $30,000 - $50,000. As tempting as it may be to ask to pet a service dog (they really are remarkable animals!) — it is a big no-no. Petting a service dog distracts them from their job, potentially interferes with medical alerts, and endangers the dog’s handler. Therapy Dogs Therapy dogs are highly trained and friendly dogs who go into schools, nursing homes, hospitals, hospice facilities, and disaster areas to provide emotional support to others. They must be neutral to environments and people and they cannot be overly social or excitable. It’s important to note that not every dog intended for therapy will be able to be a therapy dog. Therapy dogs are not protected under the ADA, but must have permission to enter a facility. There are an estimated 50,000 therapy dogs currently in the United States. Therapy dogs play a crucial role. For those who are hospitalized, petting a therapy dog has been shown to reduce blood pressures and release both serotonin and dopamine in the system. Spending time with therapy dogs can lower cortisol, thereby reducing stress, and their presence can even act as a pain reliever for those who have an increase in endorphins due to the joy of their visit. We have Florence Nightingale to thank for recognizing the benefit of therapy dogs! She was the first to take notice that small pets help sick patients feel better. Emotional Support Dogs An emotional support dog is exactly what it sounds like — a companion dog who helps ease the symptoms for someone who s dealing with a mental health or emotional condition. There is no special skills or training required for emotional support dogs. The pet’s presence is considered therapeutic. While emotional support pets are not protected under the ADA, emotional support dogs are qualified as exceptions in housing situations where pets may not otherwise be allowed. However, to qualify, an emotional support dog requires a letter from a therapist or psychiatrist. There are an estimated 200,000 registered emotional support dogs currently in the United States. And that number is on the rise as the ease to register a pet as emotional support is easy and the cost is low. As we think about Dogust, and contemplate the various roles dogs play in our lives, it’s also good to remember that there is no legal or official registration for any service, therapy, or emotional support animal. While the lack of distinction may muddy the waters a bit, reputable organizations that specialize in these unique trainings (with the exception of emotional support, which again — do not require training), is vitally important. Service dogs and therapy dogs should be trained by accredited organizations that receive standardized care and instruction.