My dog is nervous and afraid of other dogs. How do I socialize him?

Hello, poor Fiddle! He seems to be very scared by other dogs. I think the best way to approach this is by introducing him to dogs that are not overtly playful and pushy in a neutral environment. That is, you may meet with a dog you know is calm and low energy in a park just to have the other dog be around Fiddle to see if he tolerates this. Obviously, avoid any situation which makes Fiddle scared or nervous and don't encourage his fearful behavior with any rewards such as talking to him, carrying him, or petting him as this may equivocally teach him that it is ok to be afraid of other pets. Ultimately, if you're having a really hard time with Fiddle, you may need to have him evaluated by a behaviorist as it is never too late to work with them on improving a behavior. Hope this helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Merlin. I recommend starting to socialize him by enrolling in an obedience class with other dogs. This will offer a safe and controlled environment for you to start. I would alert the trainer to your concerns ahead of time so you can both make appropriate plans for the class. I hope this information helps!

Introduce her, gradually, to one dog then another and another. Do this in a neutral area, such as a dog park or field. Correct negative behavior/responses immediately and praise/reward good behavior. Use a pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, to help decrease any anxiety.Given her age, get her enrolled in an obedience class and puppy socialization classes.

Maisy may not have been properly socialized around other dogs, and if she isn't a confident dog, she will react with fear around other dogs. Unfortunately, fear in dogs can come out as aggression, so it would be a good idea to start socializing her now to prevent this from happening. You can speak to your vet about getting her enrolled with a behavioral expert to work on this behavior. The expert can introduce her to other dogs in a safe situation, working on socialization skills, and teaching her that she does not have to be afraid of them.

It certainly sounds like anxiety to me - it sounds like your dog is fearful around new people and dogs. I'd recommend talking to a behaviorist or trusted trainer about working on some behavior modification that could help your dog feel more confident in new situations. Ask your vet who they would recommend in your area.

Kurama is a very handsome guy! Some dogs aren't very comfortable in crowded places with lots of other people and dogs, just like some people who don't really like social situations. You can try using a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure to help reduce his anxiety in these situations. You can also help by allowing him to keep his distance from people and other animals when he isn't comfortable - never force him to greet people or be in crowded places if he doesn't enjoy this. You can help him with his fear by standing at a distance, and giving him praise and treats for calm behavior. If his fear is severe enough to interfere with his daily life, then I would recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate him in person and help you put together a more detailed plan to help him. This may include specific training exercises to work on, as well as possibly prescription anti-anxiety medication to help reduce his stress and make it easier for him to learn. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

the best way is the keep exposing him to other dogs. If you have a friend that has a well adjusted dog he could meet first would be best. Let them sniff each other on the leash before letting them play. some dogs act completely friendly and normal off the leash around other dogs than they do on the leash. Once he gets comfortable with this interaction you can progress to other dogs. You can try to find a group puppy class that can teach basic obedience and gets them used to other dogs at the same time.