Socialization: A Confident Dog is a Happy Dog!
Socialization is the most critical period of your puppy’s life. This period is between roughly 3 to 15 weeks, and it is when we want to expose our new puppy to a variety of new people, places and things. During socialization, puppies become acclimated to various stimuli and situations. Puppies should learn social skills during controlled, safe interactions with people, dogs and other animals. This will also teach them to be confident in the world. When puppies are not socialized, they become cautious of the world around them and may feel stressed and fearful in new situations.
Things to do to properly socialize your puppy…
Set up a session with a Fear- Free trainer. A fear- free trainer can help you better understand your dog’s body language and how to properly expose your dog without overstimulating him.
Bring your puppy to a new location at least twice a week. Since your pup may not be completely vaccinated yet, invest in a puppy stroller, or bag so they do not have to be on the ground where they could get sick. This can also prevent them from becoming overstimulated when other people or animals approach them quickly.
Let your puppy meet lots of people every week. Try to have diversity. A few people you want to introduce them to are men, women, older people, children, people with hats, beards and canes, people in uniforms, wheelchairs, skateboards and more. I like to recommend having tasty treats so that when people want to meet the dog and the dog says hi and approaches them, then they will be rewarded. A trainer can help you teach your dog how to greet people.
Do not force your pet into situations where he may be uncomfortable. If you notice fearful body language from your dog like lip licking, cowering, avoiding eye contact, yawning or panting stop the interaction and try again later. Pushing your dog to continue even though they display fearful body language will create fear and lead to further problems down the line.
Since your dog is not completely vaccinated during the socialization period, there are health risks that are possible, such as being exposed to an infectious disease before his protective immunity develops. Therefore, while it is important to socialize your dog to new places, people and things, it is even more important to make sure they are staying healthy.
Go for walks with your dog in a stroller, backpack or carried. If your vet allows you to walk on the sidewalk, stay away from dogs you do not know, and keep them away from the grass and piles of poop.
Visit dog-friendly establishments with your dog during quiet times (Dog-friendly restaurants, hotels etc.)
Play with your pup in as many different ways as you can.
Promote positive interactions with other pets.
Expose your puppy to all the sights, sounds, and experiences of your household — vacuuming, laundry, car rides, grooming, doorbells, phones, TV, music, hair dryers, luggage, strollers, carpeting, hard flooring, going up and down stairs, etc.
Socialization is an important period in your dog's life and you want to make the most of this short period. Work on some of the things addressed above and just remember to take it easy and not force your pet into things they do not want to do. Be sure to consult with a fear-free trainer for a more in-depth training plan to further your dog's success!
