I frequently get calls from clients, wanting their dog to learn how to socialize, which often translates into “I want my dog to be good at the dog parks.”

In reality, the term “Socialization” actually refers to the brief time in a young animal’s life where they are particularly open, so to speak, to learning about their environment. So for example, we can take a human infant and introduce her to a swimming pool and she is likely to not show any fear. However, take that same child at about 3 years old and put her in the pool, and she may be resistant.