AVSAB Position Statement On Puppy Socialization
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5 Steps to Crate Training Your Dog We recommend to “Train for the Future”! Your puppy may not love the crate now but with patience, baby steps & consistency, they will learn to love their private little space. Crate training helps reduce their stress when at the vet, crated in the car, at the groomers, or any other time they may need to be in a crate in their lifetime! Crate Rules—never punish by using the crate, never let them out if they are barking or whining, wait until they are quiet. Teach family members that when your pup has retreated to their crate, it is their way of saying they need some quiet time! Don’t intrude! Use the crate when you cannot directly supervise your pup, it is their crate time! This speeds up potty training & keeps them out of harm’s way! Steps to Crate Training: Step
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Puppy Training by Age and Week A new puppy can be exhausting and this 24-hour schedule shows us why! They need lots of activity in short sessions but not over-doing it either. As you get to know your puppy and their needs, days become easier! Give your puppy a chance to be a baby, which is exactly what they are. The first two weeks are all about building confidence, building a relationship with you, having them learn that being with you is the best thing ever, and getting them used to handling and learning how to relax. Their attention span is very short and they get tired and bored easily. Be consistent, be reasonable, and follow through with your boundaries and expectations. Review the attached 24-hour schedule and realize that your puppy needs lots of sleep and short sessions of other activities. An over-stimulated puppy can become cranky just like
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What is Puppy Socialization? When we decide to bring a dog into our family, we always have the idea that we want a confident, calm, puppy that we can take out in public, enjoy on walks, and travel places with. Sometimes our idea of what we want and how to get there can be difficult to achieve. Puppy socialization can be misinterpreted and therefore mishandled, and in many cases making our puppy more fearful. We want you and your puppy to be successful! Socialization is way more than learning to get along with other dogs and people. It is also important that you introduce your pup safely to a big new world. Playing with neighbor children or a family dog is not enough to get a well-rounded and confident puppy. It takes work but it is worth it! Introduce new items slowly and in a fun way. There are greatRead more →
6 Tips on How to Pick a Puppy Socialization Class! First of all, do not wait until your puppy finishes their vaccinations to start classes! You will miss an ever-important socialization time frame that you can not get back. Be smart & safe with your choice of a class. Many bad habits are unknowingly reinforced in those first few months and knowing how to handle those quickly so you aren’t starting with habits that need to be re-trained will be a big advantage to you and your new puppy! With that said, choose where you take your puppy for the first few months. Avoid letting your puppy walk around high-traffic areas like big-box stores, veterinary clinics, and parks with lots of dogs and other wildlife. Alternately, just because your puppy finishes their vaccines, does not mean they are now free to go wherever, whenever! Most dogs need to attend group
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