Socializing your puppy – Training a puppy

Many dogs that are isolated as puppies remain fearful and suspicious throughout their lives. The development period between one and five months is extremely important for puppies. Providing them with a stimulating and varied environment practically guarantees confident and happy dogs.

You want your dog to grow up thinking that all people are friendly. Don’t worry that he will be less of a watchdog as he gets older. A well-adjusted dog knows the difference between friend and foe (foe or not-so-friendly).

Invite people to your house to visit the puppy. Make sure all interactions are enjoyable and fun. Do not allow anyone to horseplay, joke around, or play tag games, especially children. Ask your visitor to gently enforce any obedience rules you have established, such as no jumping and no playing biting. Let your friends run a brush through your pup’s coat and gently handle his feet. Doing this will get the puppy used to being groomed and going to the vet. Don’t force anything at this point. Make it enjoyable and use treats.

Build physical confidence by letting the pup explore scents and different types of footsteps, climbing logs, and being in and around water. Take him to pet stores and walk him/her around the neighborhood. Occasionally take him places. Many dogs develop stress and dizziness because the only place they drive is to the vet. This stress is easily avoided if the pup associates car rides with the fun and reward of being with you.

Talk to your vet about when your puppy will be protected by vaccinations before taking him to places like pet stores and public parks. A puppy is not fully protected until about two weeks after the last series of vaccinations at sixteen weeks. By then, he’ll be ready for kindergarten and puppy training classes, which provide structured learning and socialization.

Tips for socializing your puppy:

Meet people

Carry treats in your pocket, so if the puppy is nervous about some people (man in a hat, different ethnicities, children) you can give him a treat to give to him.

It’s okay if people you know ignore it. You want him to accept strangers in a calm and neutral way instead of assuming that every person he meets should make him the center of attention.

You don’t have to say hello to everyone you meet. Not all breeds are social butterflies.

Short walks through the neighborhoods

Taking him for short walks will get him used to the distractions of different vehicles, weather, noises, and smells.

Puppies that rarely leave the property may bark excessively and be preoccupied with the outside world. Being out of the house reassures a puppy that it is not a threatening place

Don’t put him in a situation where he’ll be scared by a dog or a person. Puppies can retain traces of fear for life.

country settings

Country settings, including parks, provide a rich and natural environment for a curious pup.

Taking a puppy to a farm to meet different species and smell different scents will help build his confidence about other animals in general.

Leave him off leash or use a long line to keep him independent.

Avoid comforting a frightened puppy. Doing this can reinforce anxiety. Be cheerful and distract him instead.