From left: Jake, Hope and Windy

Dogs, being pack animals, need socialization. Whether you have one dog, three, or more, socializing helps with their behavior.

This past weekend we went to a dachshund gathering. More than two dozen dachshunds of all shapes and colors were there, in addition to a few non-wiener dogs.

Windy is the most daring of my three. She will go off by herself and check out whatever she sees. Jake stays back, observes the situation, and then investigates. Hope always watches Jake then follows him.

I can tell Hope, my Amish puppy mill girl, likes these get-togethers. She is relaxed. When she has had enough of the other dogs she will come by my chair, or my husband’s, and sit behind us. After a brief rest, she joins the fray again.

If you are interested in forming such a group for socializing, and it doesn’t have to be breed specific, ask your dog-loving friends and your vet to help get you started. For good weather, someone needs a well-fenced yard. For cold weather, a dog-proofed basement will do, or a pet store or dog-related business might loan some space for a couple hours because all these owners would be potential clients. Make sure the humans bring people food, water, and their own dog treats.

When we got home my furkids were exhausted. My little diva, Windy, crashed on my husband’s lap and snored so loudly we had to turn the volume up all the way on the TV.