When we bring a new doggie into our home, our instincts tell us to entirely safeguard and protect the dog. However, we must expose our puppies to as many everyday scenarios as possible during their first three months. This is the phase during which puppies are most receptive to learning, which affects their personality. Socialization’s benefits considerably outweigh the time effort required. Frequently, puppies who have not been socialized appropriately can be violent and fearful of humans or their environment.
How to get started in puppy socialization?
Between the periods of 8 and 12 weeks, puppies are regularly adopted. Each puppy is an individual in terms of psychological and behavioral health, and some will be more advanced than others in terms of exposure and socialization. When you bring your puppy home, focus on the following socialization areas to get more info that can aid in their development into happy, healthy dogs:
Exposure To Other Pets
Puppy playtime and social hour gain from exposure to other dogs, cats, pocket pets, and birds under the supervision of their parents.
Handling
Touching, peering into the ears, examining the mouth, touching the feet, trimming nails, bathing, leashing/harnessing/wrapping, restraining (with positive reinforcement), playing with toys, and brushing teeth are all beneficial activities to introduce to your puppy during this critical learning phase.
Outside World/Environment
Exposure to doors, crates, autos, street drains, varying surfaces, clothing, blankets, beds, and various other items outside is crucial for acclimating your puppy to everyday objects.
Sounds
To accustom your puppy to sounds and avoid a negative reaction to loud noises such as fireworks or thunderstorms, aim to stimulate him with these sounds. A good strategy is to gradually increase the volume of recorded thunder or fireworks from sound CDs, starting low and then increasing to a truly loud level. Caressing, biscuits, or your puppy’s favorite toy should be used as positive reinforcement. Additionally, horns from automobiles, trains and other loud sounds can be added.
The Veterinarian
Preparation for the veterinarian visit is just as crucial as the visit itself. Frequent visits to the veterinarian with your puppy will provide a pleasant experience for you. Spending 10-15 minutes in the clinic lobby and engaging constructively with people and other animals (in a controlled manner) might help alleviate dread and anxiety about future veterinarian appointments. The objective is to maintain a good experience without prodding or probing.
People
Daily socialization is important for your dog. This might occur at home or on the go. It is recommended that these gatherings include goodies to ensure a positive experience. Remember to interact with uniformed personnel and children.
Puppy Training Facilities
It is vital to socialize and train puppies in the same setting. Positive reinforcement is crucial for this style of training. Locate a reputable training class or trainer who employs positive reinforcement to keep puppies secure and happy. The goal is to establish a good attitude toward the puppy’s environment, people, and commands, frequently rewarded with food.
Conclusion
Social skills are not innate in puppies. They are biologically predisposed to distrust novel objects. They will receive early socialization from their mother and siblings, but more effort will need to be made with all puppies to ensure they mature into well-behaved adult dogs.
