My trainer said something interesting the other day. She claimed that dog-to-dog socialization is mostly for us humans; so we can conveniently take our dog with us everywhere.
Dogs according to her, really need to socialize with their people, but are perfectly happy with or without other dogs around. She said that dogs are happier curled up in bed with us, with a piece of steak, than they are socializing with their dog friends.
When we watch puppies at play, it is easy to believe that dogs really do need interaction with other dogs. They are so exuberant in their play, they have so much fun with each other, and then they just plop down in a puppy heap and fall asleep.
How can a human compete with that, much less replace it?
Here we consider what do dogs need, from a social perspective.
Dogs Need People
Dogs really need quality time with their people.
- Certain dogs, like my Shiba Inu, need to be with people that they have bonded with,
- While others, like my Siberian Husky, are happy as long as there are people around to interact with.
It is important to spend some quality time with our dog every day. Play time, obedience training, and daily walks, are all important, and will help establish trust, respect, and a lifetime bond.
We also need to be a good pack leader, and teach our dog the proper rules of behavior in a human world. This can be done by following the Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF) program, and using reward obedience training.
Dogs Need Socialization
Dogs may not need other dogs, but general socialization is extremely important.
Because our dogs live in a human world, it is important to expose them to a variety of environments, dogs, people, and weird objects (e.g. umbrella, balloons, garbage truck); in a positive way.
Young dogs learn faster, are more curious, impressionable, and eager to please. Therefore, I start dog socialization exercises early-on, when I first get a new dog. I carefully manage my dog, and make sure not to expose him to more than he can handle. Note that young dogs go through certain critical fear periods, where they are more susceptible to new external stimuli, so I am especially careful during those times.
I always start small and slowly build-up the social challenge, so that my dog will enjoy the encounter, and be successful at it. Success builds confidence, and breeds more success. Negative experiences, on the other hand, causes a dog to become fearful and uncertain. If a dog is fearful of people or objects, be sure to desensitize him to the problem stimulus slowly.
Remember that socialization is not only about the quantity of new experiences, but also about the quality of those experiences.
A well-socialized dog, that is confident and comfortable with his surroundings, is a joy to have around, and can follow us everywhere. He is less likely to misbehave or use aggression, even in stressful and unexpected situations. Instead, he trusts us to handle things, and is a happier and more balanced dog as a result.
Dogs Need Our Protection
Do not expect a dog to like socializing with all other dogs.
Many dog movies and television shows present an unrealistic image of the dog.
- He is naturally obedient and loyal,
- Magically understands verbal commands in at least 5 different languages, and
- Loves all people and animals (except for the bad guys).
The truth though, is that most dogs are not Lassie, and will not enjoy the company of all people or all dogs.
In He Just Wants to Say Hi, Suzanne Clothier illustrates how dogs have social boundaries, just as we do. We do not allow strangers to come up to us, invade our space, and physically man-handle us. We should not allow strangers to do that to our dogs either, especially if he dislikes having his space violated.
Always observe and listen to what our dog is trying to say. Understand his social boundaries, and protect him from rude dogs as well as rude people.
When adding a second dog to the family, it is best to introduce our existing pack to the new dog on neutral territory (e.g. a quiet park, empty parking lot). See if the new dog is accepted, and assess his temperament to determine how he may alter pack dynamics.
Opening our home to a new puppy or new dog, especially a shelter dog, is an awesome thing to do. However, I believe that the addition should not be made at the expense of our existing dogs.
Age, bad experiences, as well as physical health issues may change our dog’s social tolerance.
Puppies need to be with their mother and litter-mates until they are about 8 weeks old. Playing and interacting with his brothers and sisters, will help a puppy learn social manners, bite inhibition, and other useful skills. A puppy’s mother and adult relatives, also help to set consistent rules and boundaries for him, at an early age.
As a puppy matures, he becomes more independent, and has a lesser need for other dogs. In fact, if not properly socialized, he may become fearful and cautious. Depending on breed, some dogs may also develop stricter social boundaries, and may not want unknown dogs or people crowding their space, touching them, or sniffing their butt.
It is important to ensure that our dog’s interactions with other dogs are not negative. Too many negative experiences may cause him to become fearful and aggressive toward other dogs.
My Shiba Inu does not have very good dog greeting manners. He is a very in your face dog, and regularly annoys other dogs by invading their space without permission. I manage him very carefully, and when we see other dogs, we just calmly move on.
In this way, he is learning avoidance and building up many neutral dog-to-dog experiences. Doing desensitization training with balanced, well-socialized dogs, can also help improve a dog’s greeting skills.
Note that health and physical issues may also affect a dog’s social behavior and social comfort level.
I have a three-legged Siberian Husky who is friendly, but cautious with other dogs. Three legged dogs, seniors, and dogs with joint pain or other physical illness, will naturally feel more vulnerable. As such, they may perceive most things as threats, and may respond with aggression to protect themselves, especially when they feel cornered.
It is crucial not to expose such dogs to overly stressful situations, and to always protect them from unwanted attention (dog and human).
Dogs Need Companionship
Dogs may not need to socialize with other dogs, but if they can have a friendly dog companion, so much the better.
One of the best things we can get for our dog, is another compatible dog to play with.
My Shiba Inu loves wrestling and chasing, and it is just not possible for us humans to truly play dog. We cannot run very fast, and our wrestling skills are very limited compared to theirs.
In addition, it is generally not a good idea to wrestle and play rough with a dog. This may encourage him to start playing rough with other people, including children, seniors, or even adults that are fearful of dogs.
Unless we have great off-leash control over our dog, it is safer to institute the “no wrestling with people” rule, at all times.
I got a Siberian Husky puppy, after my Shiba Inu reached his first birthday. I waited 1 year before getting a second dog, because I wanted some alone time to bond with my Shiba.
If we get two puppies together, they may just bond with each other, and never truly warm up to human company. If we wait too long to get a second dog, our existing dog may get too set in his ways, and may not like to share with a new canine companion.
I chose a Siberian Husky because they are active dogs that like chasing and wrestling, just like my Shiba. Certain breeds may prefer retrieving balls or herding, so it is important to evaluate our dog, and pick a breed that is compatible with his play style and interests.
We can also –
- Organize small playgroups with friendly neighborhood dogs,
- Find a good dog daycare, or
- Hire a dog walker to take our dog on group walks at the park.
Enclosed dog parks are a risky alternative, because the environment is often unstructured, over-stimulating, and lacking in proper human supervision.
Do Dogs Really Need Other Dogs?
The dictionary definition of need, in this context, is to
require (something) because it is essential or very important
~~[Oxford American English Dictionary]
- I think that our dogs really need their people, but they do not really need the company of other dogs. Many dogs live perfectly happy lives, being an only child in the family.
- I think that general socialization, including dog-to-dog socialization (i.e. helping our dog be comfortable in the presence of other dogs), is important for us and our dogs. It will allow us greater flexibility and enrich our time together.
- I think that just like people, different dogs have different temperaments and social preferences. Some dogs are more dog-social, some dogs are more dog-tolerant, some dogs prefer the company of people, and some dogs prefer their own company. Social preferences and tolerances may also change based on mood, past experiences, health, and more.
- I think all of my dogs would prioritize steak, above most other things, most of the time. 😀 People with food probably comes next, and then other dogs.
- I think that my trainer’s “steak statement” is mostly accurate, i.e., it is probably true for many dogs, most of the time. This does not mean that my dogs do not enjoy interacting with other dogs, only that they prefer a juicy steak more!
What do you think? Do dogs need other dogs? In particular, is the company of other dogs essential to our dog’s life, or can they lead perfectly happy lives with just the company of people.
I have a Shih Tzu 14 years old now. I had him from a young puppy. He doesn’t really mix with many other dogs. But when he meets them at a local park he is friendly with most of them. I normally keep him on his lead but sometimes i let him off in an area which is safe not near the road or traffic. But i have noticed he doesn’t seem to like large black dogs and tries to hide behind me when the approach us. I wonder if this could be as an puppy he was cornered by a large black bull terrier over the park near me who Jasper my dog became very scared of and i had to chase the other dog away and pick Jasper up.
Yeah, incidents like that can have a large and lasting impact on a dog. My Husky has been in some bad experiences with some large, loose, and unsupervised neighborhood dogs and she is now pretty wary of large dogs.
http://shibashake.com/dog/off-leash-neighborhood-dogs
I’m researching “do dogs need other dogs” due to the recent passing of our male Maltese. We have a female Shih Tzu, Molly, and she clearly misses her buddy who was in our household when she came in as a puppy. But will she grieve & ‘get over it’ or will she be better off on long days home alone with a companion? I’m not in a rush to get another dog, but I’d be willing to get another Shih Tzu if 2 would be happier than one.
In my research I have come to realize how (embarrassingly) horribly under-socialized Molly is. I knew she was uncomfortable outside her normal domain (house & yard) and she does not adjust well/easily to visitors (except those that have visited several times). I am now learning what I need to focus on with her and socialization before we even consider a new puppy.
You seem to be about ‘shibas’ but I’m casting in all directions for some guidance. Any insight you care to share is greatly appreciated!
What does Molly enjoy doing? What are some of her favorite activities? Does she currently have dog friends that she visits with? Does she enjoy being with dogs that she is familiar with? Does Molly enjoy alone time or does she usually prefer being next to someone?
I think it really depends on the dog and the situation. My Shiba (Sephy) was very dog-focused, especially when he was young. Getting him an appropriate companion made him very happy and he also became less reactive because it helped him fulfill a big part of his need for dog-play, etc.
My Husky, Shania, is much more people focused. Whenever we meet people with dogs, she is usually more interested in the people. She still enjoys being with my other dogs, and sometimes she hangs out with them. However, I think she would be perfectly happy as an only dog, as long as there are people around, most of the time, to be with.
My youngest Husky, Lara, really needs to be with others. Most of the time, she is either lying next to a person or lying next to one of the other dogs.
Of course, it also depends on the quality of the company. For example, Sephy doesn’t love all dogs, nor does Shania love being with all people.
We have a 6 yr old female Shiba Inu named Sasha. We got her as a puppy & had a then 6 yr old shepherd collie mix named Sheba that was a wonderful “mother” & companion. They got along wonderfully & played well, though there were a few times over the years where Sheba would put Sasha in her place!
A few months ago, Sheba passed away & Sasha seems a bit depressed. She has become a bit growly with other dogs when we are out walking, where previously she (when walking with Sheba) she would have mostly just ignored them.
Any suggestions on how to help her adjust to life as an only dog? Do you think she is more aggressive to other dogs because she feels more vulnerable without Sheba around?
Would appreciate any insights you might have.
That is certainly a possibility. My younger Husky, who is more shy, acts differently when I walk her by herself and when we walk her together with Shiba Sephy. She is a lot more bold when Sephy is around.
When my Shiba was young, I helped him to build confidence and to be more calm around other dogs by doing dog-to-dog desensitization exercises. The key with my Shiba is not only to maximize positive and calm events with other dogs, but also to minimize reactive or fearful encounters.
Success helps my dog to build confidence. Similarly, bad encounters will undermine that confidence and significantly set back desensitization training. Therefore, I always manage his environment, set him up for success, and make sure not to expose him to situations that he is not ready for.
However, dog behavior is very context dependent, so each dog and situation are going to be different. When in doubt, I get help from a good professional trainer.
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/finding-professional-help
Big hugs to your Shiba girl.
Interesting. A google for dog companionship led me here. I have a Shiba so good coincidence!
Moshi has become a bit of a curmudgeon since he turned 4. He doesn’t want to play with other dogs at all and when we go out walking and I meet dogs he will go and sit 20 foot away in a right huff while I play with them! It seems he is only happy when with me exclusively.
The only time he has ever been violent with another dog is when my neighbour’s yappy lil’ Bichon invited himself into my house and started eating Moshi’s food. I had no idea how powerful Shibas could be. Boy, he was angry…
He used to know another Shiba and they were like brothers (to the point that if I mentioned the other’s name he would start crying!), but alas he has left the area.
Question: Do you think Moshi could get used to having a ‘new brother or sister’?
Haha, yeah Sephy has become pretty curmudgeonly as well. He is now over 8. We got a Husky puppy (Lara) about 3 years ago when he was around 5, and at first he didn’t like little Lara much at all. He was pretty upset when we first brought her home, and then he spent most of his time just ignoring her.
I spent a lot of time showing him how Lara can be a big plus to his routine and I supervised closely to make sure there are no bad encounters. In particular, I kept Lara away from him when he didn’t want to be bothered, and I did a lot of training exercises with Lara that was very rewarding. This would always attract Sephy to come over on his own, to show off his great skill with commands and to get the good stuff. 😀
After a while, he accepted Lara into his circle of trust, and now they are good pals. I still supervise them during play-time to manage their excitement levels, and also during meal-times to make sure there is no stealing.
More on what I did when introducing a new dog.
I think it depends a lot on the temperament of both dogs, how the introductory period is handled, and on daily supervision and routine. I chose more playful and submissive dogs, as those are more suited to Sephy’s temperament.
More on how I picked a second dog.
My Ziggie, when she was 2, found a rabbit abandoned outside a…. trash dumpster on the street. We took “her” in. Ziggie, a fearsome Dobermann, got so crazy about her “baby” rabbit -Lucrezia- who, in turn, got so audacious to the extend that she would “discipline” a dog 20 times her size (!) placing Ziggie “in line” like a U.S. Marine Officer! Sometimes, seeing them together, I used to wonder “Who’s in charge in this lousy house? Me or the Rabbit?” It was really hilarious. Now they’re both together in heaven. Lucrezia died first. Ziggies’ offsprings mistook her for a toy and accidentally killed her. Ziggie died a few months later. Although she had 8 puppies to keep her busy, she never managed to overcome her best friend’s death… So much for the “strange companionships” between Monsters and Angels, Davids and Goliaths…
A very thought-provoking article. My old dog was a Maltese and he definitely didn’t need other dogs, whereas for my 2yo Shiba not seeing at least 1 other doggy friend (other dogs she usually plays with) for more than 3 days in a row can definitely pent up some frustration for her. It’s probably all due to how she grew up as we went to the nice and wide, open park everyday where she played with dogs with good dispositions and we stayed away from those that didn’t. Plus, she’s a real flirt so personality would also play into that.
I look forward to more articles like these! 😀
Lucky Shiba girl! 😀
Hi guys! How arey you?
Big hugs from Samurai and I.
What a great article! I thoroughly enjoyed it especially because I was always unsure on Sammi’s socialisation skills with other dogs. He isn’t always dog friendly and I find that he’s SO much happier around my fiance and I. His only “dog friend” is my father’s border collie who is quite old and he tries to play but simply cannot keep up. Although after 30 minutes Sammi grows tiresome of it and would rather be around his humans. But just imagine a 14 year old border collie just sittin there panting and a Shiba Inu racing past every so often nipping at his ear or leg just to show off how fast he is.
I always wanted to get Sammi another dog because I was worried about him being lonely whilst we were at work but after reading this article and knowing that I give him enough play time and walks he actually does seem happier around us and only us.
Again, thanks so much for the article. I was enjoy reading your site 🙂
Take care,
Frances and Samurai 🙂
Hey! So glad to hear from you and Sammi. I was just watching Sammi’s pool video again the other day – so funny.
We are doing well. I got a bad flu some weeks back, but luckily, everything is back to normal now. The dogs have been healthy, which is the most important thing! It has been a pretty cool summer here so far, so everyone is enjoying their walks.
Sounds like Sammi is having a very fun summer as well. Is he still being picky over his food? Has Sammi blown his coat? Sephy is now pretty hairless and slim looking. 😀
Big hugs!
Sorry for the late reply but we recently flew to Kuala Lumpur for a wedding and have been offline. One of our friend’s house sat for us and looked after Sammi… apparently he’d come home and all his toys would be scattered throughout the house! Unfortunately he didn’t eat much whilst we were gone but from past accounts, this seems to be the norm when we are absent.
We have another funny video for you – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df1sM0TDpGY
This time he’s chasing squirrels on the television… too cute!
Sorry to hear you were unwell but glad everything is back to normal now. We’re currently in the month of winter over here in Australia so Sammi’s coat is quite thick but not as thick as last year which I thought was strange. So I’m relishing a fur free house for another few months. Awww Sephy… cute! I’d like to see a photo of Sephy hairless! He’s always so fluffy in the photos!
Surprisingly enough, he’s not being picky anymore. I think he now knows that if he doesn’t finish his kibble he doesn’t get his wet food at night so he does his best to finish it all during the day.
Sending love and best wishes to you!
lol! You know, I often wondered if I could get Sephy to learn to use a touch screen. I wonder what Sammi would have done if he pawed at the screen and something happened. It would be like a video game – Whack-a-mole for dogs. 😀
Poor Sephy. He recently got some rug burns from chasing and wrestling with Lara, because he has so little hair left. And yet, he is still shedding, it is crazy.
Trip to Kuala Lumpur sounds like fun. Did you get to try a lot of the local food? My favorites are Asam Laksa and Nasi Lemak!
Btw. love your website. The picture with the bubbles is totally awesome. I also enjoyed the puppy dream video. You should create a Sammi calendar and other Sammi products!
Well funny you mention that because we have a video of Sammi playing “Ant Smash” on the iPad. He uses his nose and his paws… quite aggressively lol. It was funny up until I saw scratch marks on the screen. Oh well.
Oh no! Poor Sephy. How unpleasant yet cute at the same time. Is your house literally covered with Shiba fur? I just can’t imagine how hairless he must be! Sammi looked VERY thin when he blew his coat to a point where people asked us if we were feeding him enough.
I loved the local food! We have been before and absolutely adored the Nasi Lemak. I think we tried it at most restaurants, street cafes and hotels to find the best one! But we didn’t get a chance to try the Asam Laksa, perhaps next time!
Aww thank you! It is a work in progress but I thought I might as well make it live. A Sammi franchise lol what a fabulous idea! I still have so many photos to go through from my camera but I think after he turns 2 I’ll have a great range to choose from.
Hugs to hairless Sephy 🙂 haha
Hi Shiba Shake, I accidentally dropped by your site when I was reading about Dog Shock Collars. Thank you for the insight. This was because I read about the media heavily criticizing Jessica Biel’s use of shock collars.
I don’t know whether dogs really need dog socialization, but I think they’ll live happier lives with other members in their pack. So I guess, whether it is another dog or another human, interacting with someone is essential.
Very true. My Huskies especially, really need/want company. It is funny that when they lie together, they often lie in the same pose. It is very adorable. 😀
Big hugs to your pack!
Most of the problems faced by dogs living amongst humans come forth from the environment they life in…when a dog is properly socialized he will be able to handle different situations much better then when being excluded from as much input , which includes a great portion of canine contact , as he can get…just put your self in his skin and then read your article again.
Dogs are social animals, which means that they do like interacting with others, and do not like being alone for long periods of time, just like people. Dogs are also individuals, which means that they have preferences as to who they like to socialize with. Some dogs like socializing with friendly dogs, others like quiet dogs, and some prefer the company of people.
Part of a dog’s socialization preferences will be genetically based, and part of it will be experience based. Both nature and nurture play a role.
If we truly put ourselves in our dog’s skin and try to understand things from his perspective, we cannot help but recognize that each dog is an individual, with individual preferences, and with different social preferences. Rather than trying to force our dogs into what we think they ought to be, we should be trying to understand what they are, what they want, and help them achieve success based on their own particular idiom.
Is it safe to have a Havanese and a Shiba Inu together as inside dogs??
Shibas have a pretty high-energy, rough and tumble play style. I have noticed that little dogs tend to get overwhelmed by this and they usually prefer playing with other smaller, calmer dogs.
That being said though, many people successfully train their Shibas to live harmoniously with their house cats, so it can be done with time and effort. Supervision is very important especially in the beginning, and it is also important to set up play rules, meal rules, interaction rules, etc. for both dogs right from the start.
Here are some of the things I learned after getting a second dog.