For many families, bringing home a puppy can come with many new challenges, including crate training and walking on a leash. And, just as humans are social creatures, so are dogs! That’s why puppy socialization should be a core part of training when you bring home your adorable little pooch. Socialization helps your puppy grow into a well-behaved, confident, and happy dog.
Here’s what you need to know about puppy socialization and how you can start to safely socialize your new puppy today.
What is the “Puppy Socialization Period”?
The best period for puppy socialization is from birth to about 16 weeks old. This is when your puppy is the most impressionable and will soak up vital information about what is safe and what is dangerous. The world and all of our “things” are brand-new to him and can cause fear or anxiety if not handled properly. Every interaction with our world becomes a learning experience for our young pups. During this time, you’ll want to create as many positive associations as possible with the things of this world in a safe, careful way.
Before you start, look for these signs:
The first thing you want to make sure of is that your puppy feels safe. We want to avoid our puppy feeling fearful, anxious, or stressed out in any way. Just as happy experiences set our pup up to enjoy those experiences in the future, scary experiences during the Socialization Period could also stick with them for the rest of their life.
The way we can tell if a puppy feels fearful or anxious is through their body language.
Zero or Low levels of stress: |
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Moderate signs of stress |
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Severe signs of stress: |
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What is Safe Puppy Socialization?
For example, when your puppy meets a new person for the first time, it’s important for the puppy to choose to say “Hi” if he’s comfortable with that. This is how the interaction might go:
A new person sits on the floor with treats in his hand. The puppy is placed on the floor a few feet away from the person. The puppy can choose to go up to the person and get a treat! (“New people equals treats! That’s a happy thing!”) The person should offer his hand to sniff and avoid petting the puppy on the head. Or the puppy can take his time or not go over at all. It’s the puppy’s choice! I can’t put my puppy in a stranger’s arms and expect him to love it!
Another example might be when your puppy sees or hears a truck for the first time. If the puppy looks nervous, then offer yummy treats to see if you can counter his reaction. (“Truck equals yummy treats! That’s an ok thing!”) If your puppy won’t take treats, then that means you are too close to the scary thing. Walk away or add some distance until your pup’s body language is telling you that he’s more comfortable. Always have treats with you for unexpected situations like this!
Another example is to take your puppy to the vet for a purely social visit, with plenty of love, cuddles by the staff and treats, so he’s not scared when it’s time for a checkup or sick visit. When you do have to go to the vet, bring your yummy treats with you, especially if the pup needs to get a shot!
Your Socialization Checklist!
To raise a well-rounded adult dog, consider introducing your puppy safely to the following before he’s 16 weeks old:
- People
- Men, including men with beards
- Women
- Teenagers
- Children
- Toddlers
- Babies
- The elderly
- People in uniform
- People who use crutches or wheelchairs, or other disabled people
- People in hats
- People in masks
- Loud people
- Household items
- Umbrellas
- Mops
- Slippery floors
- Small pets, such as hamsters or birds
- Vacuum cleaners
- Hair dryers
- Cars
- Your immediate neighborhood
- Moving cars
- Buses
- Scooters
- Sirens
- Cement sidewalks
- Delivery vehicles and people
- Motorcycles
- Trucks
- Skateboards
- Strollers
- Places
- Veterinarian
- Groomer
- Other people’s homes
- Other puppies and dogs (See next month’s blog on how to safely socialize your pup to other puppies!)
Start Socializing Your Puppy Today
The list above may seem like a tall order, and you might not be able to find all of the people and things on it before your puppy turns 16 weeks old. If you can, try to focus on the most common people, places, and things your puppy will encounter regularly in your life.
At Pooch Pawsitive, we’re committed to helping everyone make the most of this exciting but crucial period of your dog’s life so that all humans and dogs can enjoy many happy years to come! Take a look at our puppy training classes and socialization groups, or contact us for more information about how we can help you and your new furry friend.