Socializing your puppy means helping him become acclimated to as many different types of sights, sounds, experiences, and smells as you can. New puppies should be exposed to many different situations:
- New people
- Children
- Other dogs
- Vehicles
- People wearing hoods, jackets, hats, and sunglasses
- Being touched and handled
- Cats
- Different surfaces like concrete, grass, and flooring
- Urban areas and outdoor restaurants
- Beaches, parks, lakes, and woods
- Common neighborhood things like people riding bicycles, strollers, and skateboards
Good socialization is key to having a relaxed, happy, and confident dog.
You should start socializing your puppy anytime between 7 weeks and 4 months. Start out slowly. Have many different people hold your puppy. Walking is a great way for your dog to meet other dogs and to introduce him to new sights and sounds like strollers and bicycles. Socializing older dogs who are fearful and anxious can be difficult, but our Doggie Don’t Device is a great training tool to help transform him into a well behaved socialized pup.
Keep it positive. Always reward and praise your dog.
Take him to public places. Once your puppy has started his vaccines, take him to your local pet store. After he is comfortable with that and has had all of his vaccines, you can start taking him to other environments like the beach, a dog park, and outdoor restaurants.
Be sure to have control over every situation your puppy is introduced to. It is always a good idea to have the Doggie Don’t Device with you for those unexpected situations such as an encounter with a reactive dog.
Practice makes perfect. Remember the more social interactions you introduce your four-legged friend to, the easier it will get.
