When Socialising Dogs and Puppies Should Look Like... Nothing Much At All!!

This week, as we do every week, our walking group headed out together.

The numbers change from walk to walk. We never walk more than six dogs from the same household per walker, so some weeks there might be eight dogs, other weeks twelve, depending on who's joining us.

There was no chaos, no endless chasing, no dogs hurtling around at full speed. Instead there was pottering. Sniffing. Mooching. The odd wag. A few shared treats.

Dogs choosing to walk alongside different friends for a while before wandering off to investigate an interesting scent.

Watching them all together made me smile.

Every one of those dogs has loving, dedicated caregivers who have put in the work. They aren't "easy" because they were born that way. They have been given the opportunity to learn how to feel safe in the world.

This week, after the walk, a close friend and I sat together while the dogs relaxed around us, happily sharing a few treats. It struck me just how comfortable they all were. Not just with each other, but with us too. They trusted that we would guide them, keep them safe and make good decisions for them. This is what true socialisation for dogs and puppies should look like.

It was one of those little moments of magic that reminds you what this work is really about. It also reminded me just how misunderstood socialisation can be.

So often we think socialisation means dogs playing together. We search for busy parks, dog fields and large groups of excited dogs because we want our puppies to be "well socialised."

But socialisation isn't really about play.

It's about learning how to exist comfortably alongside others.

To be able to share space.

To walk together.

To rest together.

To watch another dog without feeling the need to rush over.

To understand that not every dog is an invitation to play.

That is such an important life skill.

Many young dogs who become overwhelmed don't necessarily look frightened. From a person's point of view, they often look "full of confidence."

They race from dog to dog.

They struggle to stop moving.

They launch into persistent zoomies that seem impossible to switch off.

They bounce from one playmate to the next without ever taking a moment to breathe.

People often describe these dogs as "living their best life", but what they're frequently seeing is a young dog who has become overwhelmed and no longer knows how to regulate themselves.

Imagine walking into a room where everyone wanted your attention at once. People were talking over each other, music was loud and someone new wanted to introduce themselves every few seconds.

At first it might feel exciting. Before long, it would become exhausting. Dogs experience that too. Good socialisation isn't about exposing them to as much as possible.

It's about exposing them to the right things, at the right pace, while they still feel safe enough to learn.

Looking across our walking group this week was a little

bit of magic.

Different breeds.

Different ages.

Different personalities.

Simply walking together.

No frantic excitement.

No constant wrestling.

No pressure to interact.

Just calm companionship.

The beautiful thing is that these dogs still enjoy each other's company. They don't have to ignore one another. They simply don't feel compelled to turn every encounter into an invitation to play.

That is the sort of socialisation that lasts a lifetime.

Because one day your puppy will grow up.

The dog who can calmly pass another dog, enjoy a woodland walk with friends, settle beside you in a café or simply mooch along without feeling they have to greet every dog they see is often the dog who has truly learned how to be social.

Sometimes the greatest sign of successful socialisation is that, from the outside, it doesn't look exciting at all. It just looks wonderfully ordinary. And for me, that's where the magic really is.

If you would like to learn more, work with me, or find out more, get in touch.

Email Debbie