Forcing interactions with everyone creates a dog that can't focus. It's time to stop the '100 people' trap.
The old advice was to meet 100 strangers in 100 days. But this teaches your dog that every person is a party, making them crave constant overstimulation.
When interaction is guaranteed, your dog starts barking and lunging just to reach strangers. That's not friendly—it's a learned lack of impulse control.
Real socialization means your dog sees a toddler on a scooter or a neighbor's dog and thinks: 'Whatever.' It’s about being calm, not being best friends.
Can your dog walk through a busy garden center and stay checked in? If they're scanning for the next 'friend,' they aren't socialized—they're over threshold.
Start training where your dog can succeed. This might be 50 feet away from a Target entrance. Watch the world go by without reacting.
The moment your dog looks at a distraction and then looks back at YOU, mark it with a 'Yes!' and a high-value treat like fresh chicken.
Eventually, the sight of a squirrel or a loud truck becomes a cue for your dog to look at you. You become more interesting than the environment.
If your dog fixates, don't scold. Calmly turn around and walk 20 feet in the opposite direction. Distance is your best management tool when focus breaks.
Strangers will ask to pet your dog. It’s okay to say: 'Sorry, we’re training for calm today.' Protect your dog's progress from over-excited humans.
For rescues or 'teenage' dogs, neutrality is freedom. It proves they don't have to engage with every scary or exciting thing they encounter.
Socialization isn't a greeting spree; it's a focus-building exercise. A neutral dog is a low-stress companion that can handle any environment with ease.
Get the exact disengagement scripts and threshold checklists to transform your daily walks.