Distal socialization means witnessing things at a distance and learning to ignore these things – also known as observation, passive socialization, indirect socialization, or exposure without interaction.
To teach dogs to ignore people, dogs, and other things they may see moving in any environment, we model the attitude that we are not paying attention to those things, so the dog doesn’t need to either. We note and move on; we do not pay undue attention, react, or engage. Distal socialization can include the following:
- Seeing people at a distance inside/outside the home
- Seeing animals at a distance inside/outside the home
- Seeing cars, trucks, and traffic
- Walking at a distance from construction sites
For us, this is one of the most important aspects of socialization—raising dogs who are generally indifferent to things, people, or animals unless I direct their attention toward those things. Isn’t this alone a huge deal?
Think about it: you’re out for walks, and your dog doesn’t care who else is out! You’re in an obedience training class, and the dog is happy to pay attention to you and no one else! This kind of socialization also reinforces the intimacy of our growing bond by not allowing others to interfere with and hinder our bond.
You might struggle with this, coming across people who ask if they can say hi to the dog or if their dog can greet yours, or even people who don’t ask. This is a test for us!