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 great Puppy Socialization Checklists that include ideas on different things to work on. Remember, you are also training for 5-10 years in the future, and we don’t know what life can bring!
• Handling: this is important from Day 1. Being touched all over including checking teeth, paw & nails, and holding face still (especially if you have a breed that will need regular haircuts).
• People: of all ages including infants, toddlers, delivery men & women that wear all kinds of clothing including uniforms, holding items like boxes or bags, hats, masks, etc.
• Items: Crates, mops, vacuums, fans, shovels, unusual items such as umbrellas, walkers & canes, and even wheelchairs. Think about seasonal items that may not be used for months down the road.
• Surfaces: comfortable on slick and smooth floors, especially if you only have carpet and vice versa. Walk on mats, plastic tarps, cardboard, over items like hula hoops, boards, and a ramp laid out flat on the floor. (Eventually using a ramp to get your larger breed pup into and out of the car is useful.) Stairs too, especially if you do not have any at home.
• Noises: Puppies should become familiar with noises from the vacuum, garbage trucks, doorbells, and loud and unusual sounds.
Tip: you can find all sorts of sounds on your cell phone to help with this.
• Animals: large and small dogs in a controlled meeting, other species such as cats, domestic birds, horses, chickens, etc.
The Golden Rule with Puppy Socialization is to go slow. Be intentional but never force a situation. Reward with yummy treats, praise, and lots of happiness in your voice, and your puppy will look forward to socialization adventures!
