Sociability can be broken down into 3 catergories.
1. Overly social
2. Neutral
3. Unsocialable
Overly social dogs often display wild and exuberent greetings. These dogs enjoy human contact and are usually very responsive to voice, petting,and human interaction in general. Overly social dogs typically have a strong desire to please you, generally making them easier to train. However, some overly social dogs can get quite slighted by punishment and shut down - Golden Retrievers are a good example. Good sociability is a very desirable trait and should be encouraged.
Neutral dogs are typically very affectionate with their owner, but may not respond as well to a stranger. These neutral dogs may actually be displaying a lack of confidence that should be worked through with positive reinforcement. Some dogs have learned to ignore people outside of their own territory as a deterrent to what they percieve as threatening. These same dogs may be very territorial and defensive at home on what they percieve as their own territory. These dogs may respond better and learn quicker when trained by their owner but should be encouraged to have positive interaction with others as well.
Unsociable dogs generally will not approach a stranger and will not allow themselves to be approached. These dogs may even display aggression if strangers enter their comfort zone. This can be generic or a learned behavior. Some dogs may have learned that growling or barking is a good way to prevent a stranger from approaching. Some unsociable dogs will tolerate being petted for a short peroid of time and then quickly look to escape the situation. An unsociable dog needs to be handled very carefully. This type of dog will require counter conditioning and behavior modifications as part of their training program.
Article Written By J. Foley
http://jackthedogtrainer.com
Recent Comments