Is a dog normal if they aren't "socialized"?

Question

what I mean is, is it a dog's nature to want to socialize with other dogs? do they have "inter dog aggression" or another behavior or emotional problem if they don't want to be around all other dogs? does breed play a part in whether a dog wants to socialize more than other breeds?

i would like your opinions please.

Answer 1

Dogs are pack animals and therefore instinctively want social time with a "pack".  The pack doesn't have to be other dogs...it can be it's human companions as well.  The pack must be healthy though with clear boundaries.  I think most dogs though would enjoy play time with others of their kind and so time with "play buddies" or time at a dog park is great.

Answer 2

NO they are pack animals and a non-socialized dog can be a danger to others or itself. One of the most important skills we teach in K-9 Search and Rescue is socialization.

Answer 3

We all know that dogs are "pack" animals, but one thing we tend to forget is that naturally pack animals do not associate with individuals from outside their pack. Looking at the wild cousins of the domestic dog, you see that when a "pack" comes across a lone individual they often kill it.

So aggression to dogs and people from "outside the pack" is completely NORMAL. However in our society it is unacceptable & rightly so!

We socialize young puppies before their pack drive is really set in (it becomes most obvious around puberty - darn those rebellious teens!) while the pups are accepting to everyone and everything. So they have a childhood of conditioning (Everyone is good! Other dogs are fun! Lets go play! Lets go check out this new place!).

Breed plays a huge part in the desire to play with others. Part of domestication includes retention of juvenile traits - in the case of dogs a HUGE part. Dogs with more primitive behaviors & super strong pack drives (basenji, akabash dog) are going to have a harder time with "socialization" than say your average labrador (yes that was me calling labs childish :P)

Socialization is about so much more than just wanting to be around other dogs. My rule of thumb: My dogs don't have to LIKE it - but they sure as h**l better TOLERATE it.

Answer 4

I think it depends on a lot of different things, and how the puppy was raised. I mean, if a young puppy has a bad encounter with other dogs when it's young, and doesn't have any other contact with dogs, then it may retain some fear of other dogs when it grows up. However, if it has many positive experiences with other dogs when it's young, it will have nothing to fear when it's older, as it's already learned that meeting and socializing with other dogs is a positive thing.

I think part of it also depends on the individual dog. Some dogs may have had positive experiences with other dogs when they were young, and may not mind meeting other dogs, but they may just not want to socialize with other dogs. I believe breed does play some roll; I mean, a breed bred to be friendly and social may be more willing to socialize with other dogs than a breed bred to be a companion to just people or a protection dog to their person.

I think a dog that doesn't really want to socialize with other dogs is perfectly normal. When it gets to aggression, then you have a problem.

Answer 5

Dogs should be socialized at a young age. But I have owned a few dogs that just liked to be around people more then other dogs. The problem though is if the get aggressive towards other dogs then you have a big problem. If there not then they should be fine.

Answer 6

dogs are pack animals.  it is in their instinct to want to be around other dogs or family members that they consider their 'pack.'  some breeds are bred to be agressive to other dogs.  imo it is good for dogs to be around other dogs both larger and smaller and taught to have good manners around other dogs.  if you start them in puppy socializing classes they will be less fearful around strange dogs therefore less likely to be agressive.

Answer 7

dogs are very socialable with other dogs.if you don't expose them to different kinds of dogs and different kinds of people,then they WILL be scared or show agression towards them if not socialized as a puppy.Some breeds do tend to shy away but it will take time to get them used to new things.Patience is the key to unhapiness.lol.just kidding.I mean it is the key TO happiness.as soon as your puppy has his vaccine shots,go and take him to the doggy park,traing classes,or anywhere else with other dogs to socialize him before he thinks otherwise of what he has never seen before.

Answer 8

No, dogs do NOT need to socialize with other dogs to be social.

Dogs are social animals WITHIN their pack, but, I have never seen a pack get up and go visit another one in the wild, just to socialize.

Some dogs are more social then others, but, socialization is a word that people here do not get.

To socialize means to expose your to environmental conditions and situations that the dog will face during its life, not to go visiting other dogs at the park!!

Hope I helped!!