Socialization is an important part of any dog’s early life.  Puppies reach the prime age for socialization at about 4 weeks of age, and this window of opportunity lasts until about 4 ½ months.  When exposed to lots of new people, dogs, places and things during this time, it lays the foundation for a lifetime of good social behavior.

But what about adult dogs that have never been socialized? There is certainly an abundance of them, and many are found in rescue due to behavioral problems.  Is there any hope for them?

Older dogs are much harder to socialize than puppies because they are more suspicious of the unknown. They often have bad habits that have not been corrected, and they may show little interest in becoming acquainted with new creatures and objects.  Still, socializing an older dog is possible.  It will take longer than it would with a puppy, and expectations must be reasonable, but it can be done.

The techniques for socializing an older dog are essentially the same as those for socializing a puppy.  But lots of patience is required, and there are a few things you’ll need to pay special attention to.  Here are some pointers:

• Take it slow.  Before you introduce the dog to new things, make sure he is comfortable in his normal surroundings.  Take the time to acquaint him properly with your home, and pet and groom him regularly to ensure that he is comfortable with your touch.  Once he is content with his new home and family, he will have a better chance of success with other situations.

• Pay special attention to the dog’s comfort zone.  Let him examine new people and objects from afar first, and once he’s comfortable with that, move a little closer.  Keep going until he is comfortable being right next to the object or being hand fed by the person, but don’t rush things.  It is crucial to take it one step at a time.

• When socializing with other dogs, take special care to maintain control of the situation.  Start out bringing an unfamiliar dog to your home, and take your dog’s cues to determine how far to go.  Socializing with other dogs can be especially tricky, so persistence is a must.

• Ignore fearful behavior.  It is tempting to try to calm your dog down, but he may view the extra attention as a reward.  Just continue to talk to him in a normal tone, and don’t try to coax him out of hiding.

• If your dog displays aggressive behavior, calmly put him in “time out.”  This will give him a chance to regroup.  Once he has calmed down, try again.

• Reward good behavior with treats.  Some trainers give a certain kind of treat for neutral, non-aggressive behavior, and reserve an extra-special treat for friendly behavior.

Older dogs that have never been socialized may come around fairly easily, but they usually require some extra work.  Some may never be completely comfortable around unfamiliar dogs and people, or they may have persistent phobias.  But with lots of patience, love, and understanding, it is possible to see a significant amount of improvement.