My Dog is Antisocial, What Do I Do?

What do I do if my dog is antisocial?

Dogs who bite everything and everyone on the street have serious socialization problems. Why? Well, typically dogs that do that are puppies over 4 months old, and there is a reason for it.

When you get a puppy, the veterinarian tells you that you can’t take him outside until he has all his vaccinations. But it can be counterproductive in another aspect. We say this because the time period for vaccinations is the same as the dog’s time period for imprinting.

What is imprinting? We talk about it in one of our articles; check it out. It’s a very important process in every dog’s life and it has to do with socialization.

When you get a puppy, you must get him used to being with other people and other dogs. It will greatly impact his character and personality, determining whether he will be a friendly dog or an antisocial one.

The dog misses out on imprinting when he’s isolated due to the vaccination process. This could make him antisocial. How can this be fixed?

While it’s not recommended for the dog to go outside until he has all of vaccinations, there are things that can be done at home. One example is to not always carry him around. It’s also good to not let him get used to being with only one person.

Furthermore, if your neighbors or family members have other dogs that aren’t aggressive, invite them to your house to socialize with yours. If the puppy stays isolated in his little bubble, it won’t be good for his emotional development. As a result, he will be antisocial.

What if my dog isn’t a puppy anymore and is antisocial?

If your dog has already gotten his vaccinations and continues being antisocial, even if he’s older, don’t worry. There is also a solution. Although chronic issues require more time to change, you can do anything if you do it with patience.

Being antisocial isn’t pleasant for your dog either, because it causes quite a bit of anxiety and instability in him. Therefore, it’s important that you help him find his emotional balance and stability. You’ll have to socialize him. It won’t be easy, but if you are willing to dedicate time to it, you can do it.

Socializing you dog

First of all, take your dog on walks through places where there are other dogs, like parks or off-leash dog parks, beaches for pets, etc. Of course, always take him on a leash, and use a muzzle if he bites. 

When he disobeys or wants to go off on his own, don’t pull on the leash. This won’t do anything but aggravate his anxiety and make him more nervous.

Let other dogs get close, and talk to your dog softly while you pet him, making him see that nothing is going to happen. It’s important to be in a place where the dog can’t escape or run after other dogs and end up getting into an accident. 

It’s also important that you work on this at home. If you treat him like a person, it could go to his head and he may think that he can do whatever he wants. This will aggravate his antisocial personality even more. Make him work on learning commands; that will make his attitude more submissive. Little by little he will become a less antisocial dog.

Of course, don’t get impatient or scold him if you don’t see results quickly. Teaching an older dog with a past of behavioral problems isn’t the same as teaching a puppy. You are going to need time and patience… a lot of patience.