Socializing Your Puppy

Socializing Your Puppy Should Be at the Top of Your List When Training Your Puppy
A special benefit of socialization and one of the simplest ways to begin teaching your puppy not to bite and be so mouthy is to start socializing her with other puppies and dogs as soon as possible. In this case, socialization means playtime. Playtime means biting, mouthing, romping, tumbling and roughhousing. Puppies that have an outlet for these behaviors are less likely to use their human companions as littermate alternates. Find a Doggy Playmate... It might take some time for your puppy to accept a new playmate and vice/versa, but be patient and generally they will become best doggy friends. How do I find a Playmate? Enroll in a puppy training class, talk to your neighbors, take your puppy on walks around your neighborhood... With just the opportunity to play with another dog on a regular basis, puppy biting can dramatically reduce. Socialization with other dogs plus instruction and training from you, usually stops the inappropriate biting in minimal time with minimal effort. If your puppy does not have an alternative outlet for it’s biting and mouthing, then humans, furniture, clothing, and fill-in-the-blank become the objects of the puppy’s teeth. Socializing your puppy also helps her develop a secure and stable personality. It teaches your puppy how to behave in different situations and settings. Socialization helps your puppy become an all around well-adjusted companion. Puppies who have not been socialized generally become fearful, skittish dogs who may be frightened and upset by everyday occurrences and unavoidable situations. They are untrustworthy and often have nervous, frenetic personalities. They tend to be biters and barkers. They often experience separation anxiety and submissively pee. Taking an un-socialized dog out in public can be a nightmare for both the dog and the owner.
Start Socializing your Puppy or Dog Now! - Don't Delay... Whatever the age of your puppy, start now. The sooner the better - and better too late than not at all. And the longer you wait, the more likely it will be too late. The younger the puppy the easier it is and more quickly it happens. The older the dog, the more time consuming and tedious the process. Sometimes so much so that socialization is unsuccessful. Here’s an example of a very time limited aspect of socialization. A larger breed dog while still a very young puppy is relatively easy to socialize with children. But if you wait for a couple of months, the small, fuzzy, cute, non-threatening puppy suddenly begins looking more and more like a big dog that some parents may be hesitant to allow their young children around. It’s easy to control a smaller puppy to keep him from jumping up and being too exuberant. As the puppy grows, that jumping and exuberance becomes more difficult to handle and more likely a liability and risk, hence you don’t have as many opportunities to teach your puppy to accept and enjoy children. Puppies are very impressionable and every experienceyour puppy has will usually stay with him for life. If your puppy does not experience the vacuum cleaner, then when he meets it for the first time later on, he will most likely be aggressive towards it or fearful of it. Now just substitute the words “vacuum cleaner” for any item, object, person, situation or event: such as loud noises, baths, car rides, cats, horses, umbrellas, hats, other dogs, people in uniform, etc. Introduce your puppy to as many different situations and items and people as possible without overwhelming her. It’s essential that her experiences are pleasant or at least neutral so that she doesn’t associate these things with anything scary or painful. Make sure any other dogs or puppies or other pets that she plays with are friendly, healthy and vaccinated. Your responsibility is mainly to provide the opportunity for your puppy to explore and experience new things in a controlled setting with minimal interference. You may subtly encourage confident behavior with the use of treats and praise. However, do not scold or reassure any hesitant behavior. Let your puppy find out on his own that the opened umbrella sitting in the middle of the living room is not a threat. If he has already shown signs of fear of let’s say the vacuum cleaner, then leave the vacuum in the middle of the room, unplugged and with a scattering of his favorite treats around and on the vacuum itself. This may take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks depending on your puppy’s age and previous experience. When your puppy shows no signs of fear of it, then plug it in and turn it on only briefly and at some distance away so as to not blast your unsuspecting pooch into the next room. Remember the idea of socialization is allow your pup to accustom herself to strange and different or new things in a pleasant way and non-threatening way. If you find that the item or situation is too much for your puppy, stop the session immediately and either try again with your puppy at a greater distance from the offending stimulus or find a way to minimize the situation to a level that is not over bearing for your puppy. Dogs have a keen ability to sense our feelings and emotions. So if you find yourself upset or nervous about a particular item or situation, your puppy will probably pick up these same feelings. If you find yourself over-whelmed, you might also want to start with a situation where you yourself are comfortable and confident. Before taking your puppy outside to public places, make sure she is vaccinated and has your veterinarian’s approval. Make sure any animals she comes in contact with are also vaccinated and healthy. In particular you want to avoid any place where stray dogs or unhealthy, unvaccinated dogs have access. Generally your friends and family’s homes and yards are safe, as long as stray dogs are not able to roam freely on their property. Any place that is clean and safe for you and your children would most likely be safe for your puppy. Shopping centers and storefronts are great places to meet all kinds of new things. Some businesses allow dogs on their premises, so just ask. Be sure to take your doggy-diaper bag with you to clean up any accidents or messes your puppy may create. Take treats, water, toys and any other supplies that may come in handy. When in public, always make sure you can prove her registration and vaccination status.
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