Socializing New Puppies
Your puppy should be slowly introduced to everything you want your puppy to have a positive reaction too. This may include elderly, kids, other dogs, and the vet clinic.
It is important to reward for puppy during this new interactions. This interactions should be in short increments, and low energy level.
Let’s talk about what Puppy Socialization is and isn’t.
What it is: Exposing your puppy to new experiences, in a controlled positive matter.
1. Introduce your puppy to new sights, sounds, and smells. When they experience something new, reward your puppy with kibble or treats.
2. Take it slow. I’m sure all of your friends are excited to meet your new puppy addition, however meeting so many people at once can be overwhelming. Start off with your puppy with becoming comfortable interacting with you and your family. After a week or so you can start introducing them to one friend at a time. Keep the excitement level low, and the reward in kibble/treats for calm interactions high.
3. Baby steps. It is important to break new experiences in to small pieces. For example, when introducing your puppy for public spaces. You can start by sitting in the trunk of a car in a parking lot, when a car or person passes, reward your dog. After your pup is comfortable here, you can put your puppy into a clean shopping cart during a slow time at a store like Lowe’s or Home Depot, again rewarding for when people pass by. You can talk to people in the store but do not let them interact with your puppy unless your puppy is behaving how you want them to greet people. If you allow someone to pet your puppy they should only pet your puppy for a few seconds. If you puppy gets overwhelmed (by anxiety or excitement) end the interaction.
What it is not:
1. Allowing or forcing your puppy to direct interact with everyone and everything. This can easily overwhelm your new puppy.
2. DO NOT let every stranger pet and interact with your puppy.
3. Allowing your puppy to control the situation by pulling, barking, or jumping.
4. Prolonged exposure to new experiences. In other words, do not take your new puppy straight to your kids baseball games. Instead take your puppy for drop your kiddo off at practice or pick them up. Slowing staying a little bit longer