7. Socializing
Socializing 101
Socializing your puppy! Imagine growing up and never having had any friends at all. That would suck quite a bit, right? Socializing your puppy is essential for their happiness, their training and you. At the end of the day, a happy puppy is a happy parent so finding them friends and exposing them to new environments will be important for the both of you.
Getting a new puppy will make you incredibly popular in town and you’ll start to get a lot of attention quickly. This is where you can start to teach your puppy manners and how to socialize from a young age after they’ve gotten a head start from their breeder.
Everything you need to know
- The first couple of months of your puppy’s life will have a tremendous impact on the rest of their lives, shaping their personality and behavior once they reach adult age. The goal of socializing your puppy is that they react to new smells, sounds, people and things in a positive manner.
- Chances are, you’ve gotten your puppy from a breeder, and they’ve already started the socialization process (if you haven’t check out the end). You’ll want to start slow and at your own pace, but your puppy will probably be easily excitable at a such a young age. Once you’ve gotten comfortable with your puppy you can start to introduce them to new environments, positive associations, your friends & family and more.
- Proper socialization can help your puppy build confidence and prevent future accidents, bad socialization can lead to behavior problems later on and we don’t want that. Once your veterinarian gives you the greenlight to take them outside, you can start to help them learn how to enjoy the company of others.
How do I socialize my puppy?
Introductions
Imagine when you were a kid and everything was brand new, every new sight, smell and sound. Try introducing them to as many new environments as possible, try grass, forest trails and gravel. Have them meet people on bikes or skateboards, little kids, people playing spike ball, frisbee or someone with another puppy.
Think of it like a mini adventure game between the two of you of what you have or haven't met. The more levels you can do together at a young age with you the better they’ll do in harder ones once they’re older.
Positive Association
It’s vital that your puppy is supported in a positive manner throughout every new experience, followed by lots of treats and praise. It’s not so important that they have a ton of new experiences rather that they have many good quality experiences. By giving them lots of treats and praise, your puppy will start to automatically associate anything new with something fun!
Be mindful if you start to get uncomfortable with bringing them somewhere and get nervous, dogs even puppies can read our emotions and they’ll start to mirror them. So, remember that you can take a step back too and come back another time.
Involve others!
Getting your puppy to meet your friends and family helps teach them how to get familiar with others and out of their comfort zone. It also gives you a great opportunity to slowly start introducing them to your social circle.
Pace yourself
Baby steps. You don’t want to overwhelm your puppy with too many new smells, sounds or strangers. You can start with slowly introducing them to one person, then another and then a few more.
Large crowds, parties and gatherings can create an overwhelming environment and you don’t want your little one to get scared each time people show up. It’s your responsibility to watch your puppies emotions and give them a helping hand when they need it.
Out in public
Once your puppy is comfortable with your controlled and smaller environments adventures you can try taking them to bigger spaces or even the dog park!
Typically, dog parks are sanctuaries for all dog owners, to let go and relax but it’s important to note that not every dog at the dog park will be socialized to the same level. Keep an eye out on your pup and watch out for any signs that another dog is playing too rough especially the first couple times your puppy comes to the dog park (remember we want positive experiences).
Puppy Classes
Another great way to socialize your puppy is through puppy classes. These are not only great for your puppy to learn basic commands but more importantly to learn from other people and dogs. Good trainers will moderate puppy classes so that everyone’s happy, safe and learning during the whole process. Try googling some in your area!
