17/09/2026
Does your dog need to like everyone?
I don’t think they do.
And perhaps more importantly, I don’t think every dog needs to want everybody they meet to stroke them, fuss them or become their new friend.
We put an enormous amount of emphasis on “socialising” puppies, and quite rightly we want them to grow into confident dogs who can cope with the world around them.
But somewhere along the way, I think socialisation can sometimes get confused with interaction.
They’re not the same thing.
For me, a well-socialised dog doesn’t necessarily need to greet the person walking towards us.
They don’t need to say hello to every dog.
They don’t need to enjoy a stranger reaching over their head.
They don’t need to be delighted when somebody they’ve never met decides they’d quite like a cuddle!
Sometimes being able to notice something, feel safe around it and simply carry on with life is more than enough.
And I think this is particularly relevant with breeds like German Shepherds, Rottweilers and other large breeds.
They can be naturally observant dogs. They notice people. They notice changes. They can be discerning about who they want in their personal space.
I’ve certainly had differences within my own dogs.
Some have been far more naturally sociable than others. Some would happily interact with people, while others would much rather acknowledge someone and then get on with their day.
And that’s OK with me.
Of course, there’s a difference between a dog calmly choosing not to interact and a dog who is frightened, anxious or unable to cope with somebody being nearby. The latter may need our help.
But I don’t think the goal has to be turning every dog into a social butterfly.
Sometimes the goal can simply be…
“You don’t need to interact. You just need to know you’re safe.”
And perhaps we also need to become a little better at advocating for our dogs.
“No thank you, she’d rather not be stroked.”
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with saying it.
So I’m curious…
What is YOUR dog like with people?
Do they want to be everyone’s friend?
Do they have a carefully selected inner circle?
Or are they very much, “I’ve seen you. I’ve assessed you. That’s quite enough, thank you.” 😂
