Far too many dogs these days end up in shelters or pounds because their owners did not understand their behavior and were not able to deal with it appropriately. Many of these dogs end up being euthanized when they could have been rehabilitated. Here are a few ways you can properly socialize your dog and avoid this fate.

#1: Start Early

It is essential that your dog learns about appropriate behavior from an early age. For best results, your puppy should be about seven to eight weeks old when you bring him home. This period (up until fourteen weeks) is a very fearful one for your puppy and they should be treated very gently by everyone. Gentle rebukes will usually be enough for the puppy to understand the rules. Avoid rough play at this age as well.

#2: Understand the Pack Order

Dogs have a natural instinct to make a pack. In the wild they lived in packs, and in your home they will create the same hierarchy of pack dogs. You and everyone who lives in your home is included in the pack. So it is crucial that you and everyone else in the house establish themselves as a more dominant pack member. This doesn't mean you have to be mean to the dog. It's the subtle things you do that the pack leader would do in the wild. Such as the pack leader will eat first, and sleep in a higher area of the den. Also, avoid your dog growling at you, sitting on you, or putting their paw on you since this is a dominant action. Plus, table scraps are a big no-no. The pack leaders always eat the better food. The other dogs get everything else.

#3: Dog Parties

If you want your dog to not be aggressive to other dogs, you need to have them be around other dogs. As long as your dog has their necessary shots, try taking them to a dog park or a dog daycare so that your dog can learn that other dogs are OK and that they are not the enemy. This is a good idea even if you have other dogs in the house, as your dogs will look at other dogs as 'outsiders' unless they are taught otherwise.

#4: Don't Chase the Mailman

When welcomed people come to your house it is important that your dog know who you are letting in and who doesn't belong. Let them get acquainted with the mail carrier, or paper delivery person. If you let in a repair person, and you are fearful of how they will react to this person, it's OK to crate your dog until that person leaves. However, if you associate them well enough, you won't have to take such measures. Make sure as soon as you can that you socialize your dog with as many different kinds of people. Include both genders, and as many different types of ethnicity's as possible. The more people they have seen the less likely for them to be surprised by anyone.

#5: Exercise

Exercise is a necessity not only for dog aggression but for their health as well. Make sure to take them for a walk or play with them at least once a day for a 15 minute minimum. If you can't do this you may want to have a responsible one of your kids do it, or you can even hire a professional dog walker. This will keep your dog from getting bored and frustrated, so they don't take out their frustration on people or any other dogs.

Remember, that your dog cannot learn something you don't teach them. They are only exposed to what you expose them to. They don't have the luxury of exploring the world on their own, so you have to help them along. Let them see what you see, and they'll be better behaved for it.