How sociable is your dog?

It’s common to think that dogs love to be around other dogs and that they’ll all naturally get along. But while dogs are social creatures, they can be just like us in terms of how sociable they are.

For example, I can easily talk to new people but I would never be the most sociable person in the room. You could call me “human tolerant.” And my dog Winston is pretty dog selective – he only has one dog friend right now and has little tolerance for puppies or adult dogs who run up to him and get in his face. His idea of a great walk is just being able to sniff where other dogs have been, rather than actively approaching them and saying hello.

The dog sociability spectrum

The dog sociability spectrum can be a useful way to look at how sociable an individual dog is. There are thought to be four levels:

* Dog social

* Dog tolerant

* Dog selective

* Dog aggressive

Many dogs start life as dog social but become either dog tolerant or dog selective as they get older. A smaller number of dogs may become dog aggressive due to the likes of bad experiences, genetic influences or even health issues.

The levels aren’t necessarily fixed either. Some dogs can switch levels, depending on the environment or their life stage. For example, some dogs may be dog tolerant in wide open spaces but much more selective in their home. And some may be able to move from being dog aggressive to dog selective with the right behavioural modification plan.

Here’s a little more about each of the levels so you can see where you think your dog might fit.

Dog social

Dog tolerant

Dog selective

Dog aggressive

Rethinking how sociable your dog is?

As dog guardians, it’s up to us to support our dogs in their social lives. So manage certain situations if your dog is uncomfortable and be ready to direct them away if they could cause an issue with another dog.