Prosocial behavior in dogs: dog training and dog-loving pedagogy

Prosocial behavior in dogs

The prosocial behavior in dogs allow our friends to socialize within a pack and in the “canine pedagogy“, all these behaviors are defined by the term “pro-sociality“. If you want to promote the socialization of the dog with his fellow canines it will be necessary then follow a proper dog training technique. We find out how!

Dog training and prosocial behavior in dogs

Following proper canine education is very important in today’s society; mainly because our lives are  characterized by limited space and very crowded from the urban point of view. Until ten years ago, the  dog training was not even taken into consideration: our friend lived practically in the house, and in most cases, walking the dog was just a way to allow him to use the bathroom.

Today the relationship with our four-legged friends has completely changed, we want to be present in their lives and we want them in ours, with the ability to take them with us to restaurants, bars, on public transport, on a beach and many other pet-friendly places. In addition, more and more often, we want to enroll our dogs in many social and sporting activities, such as the agility, pet therapy, or just spend the day at the park playing Frisbee with them. Our furry friend, needless to say,  is very happy about this change, but to accommodate the new role that dog’s play in our lives, now we must allow the dog to develop more prosocial skills.

If we develop prosocial behavior in dogs, the latter will be able to recognize his peers as friends, not as enemies! This means that all the dog lovers who keep their dog in the yard should get out more often with his friend, in order to make him better understand the difference between the small field of home and the outside world. Allowing the dog to engage in social relations is an extremely important characteristic of dog training.

Pedagogy cinofila tips

Dog socialization is the ability to recognize other dogs and have a correct interaction with them. To develop this predisposition, it is imperative that the puppy remains with the mother for the first two months of life. It will be up to us to favor its ability to socialize in the following years, allowing our friends to get in touch with other dogs. The correct balance of the dog in certain social situations is so important. If the dog appears calm and at ease in certain circumstances, it means that we have done a good job. When we refer to canine training, we pay particular attention to the following “key factors”:

  • The emotional canine behavior:  pay attention to whether your dog displays more positive emotions or negative ones;
  • The motivational canine behavior: for example, does your dog seem collaborative, possessive, defensive or territorial when confronted with other dogs?
  • The emotional mark: what behaviors are tied to past experiences that your dog has had (both positive and negative)
  • The communication skills of the dog: the ability of the dog to relate with others;
  • The integration of the dog: a set of knowledge and skills that allow the dog to deal with certain situations;
  • Reflexivity: the dog’s ability to control impulsive behavior.

This dog-loving pedagogy is therefore of fundamental importance; with proper training and socialization, you can bring your dog everywhere without anyone be stressed out!