Socializing Your Puppy

The critical socialization periods for a puppy are between weeks 3 and 12, and anything not introduced to the puppy in this time period is likely to become an object of fear or uncertainty later in life.

Make sure you introduce your puppy to several new things per day as soon as you adopt your puppy.

Here’s a list of suggestions:

• Handling: Touch your puppy’s ears, paws, tail, belly, everywhere. Pinch his scruff; look at his teeth; stare into his eyes; cradle him like a baby; brush him; give him a bath; towel him dry. Do this daily and give him a yummy treat for every body part you touch.

• Strangers: Men; women; playing children; screaming infants; joggers; skateboarders; hats; umbrellas; wheelchairs; crutches. Introduce him to as many people as you can before he turns 3 months, but make sure they take their shoes off, wear clean clothes, and wash their hands. Have everybody handle him and hand-feed him

• Places: Vet; parks; groomer’s; parking lots; playgrounds; lakes; the outdoor shopping centers. The busier the location, the better! Have strangers feed him and pet him. Don’t put him on the ground in places a lot of dogs have been, such as the dog park or the vet’s waiting room. This will help minimize the risk of him getting sick before he has all of his vaccines.

• Surfaces: Carpet; tile; grass; sand; mud; pavement; bathtub; on tables.

• Loud noises: Doorbell; TV; clapping hands; dropping pots and pans; vacuum cleaner; blow dryer; traffic; fireworks; thunder; alarms; sirens.

• Moving objects: Bikes; scooters; strollers; buses; shopping carts.

• Different animals: Dogs (male, female, big, small, various breeds); other puppies; cats; birds; horses and livestock; squirrels; fish. Obviously it’s unsafe to let a puppy near an animal that he may hurt or may hurt him, but get him used to and unafraid of being near different species. They don’t have to meet face-to-face; being in just the general vicinity is fine.

Positive associations with new people, animals, and objects will prepare your puppy to have the self-confidence in life to overcome all obstacles!