Teaching Puppies to Socialize

By Frederic Robinson

A dog that is comfortable with the public and can interact well with people and other dogs. You can even say that this is actually a healthy and happy dog. A dog with poor social orientation, on the other hand, is rather perceived dangerous to the community.

Increase your puppy's socialization by starting out early around 12 weeks old. The earlier the puppy gets to be familiar with the public, the better he can behave in the presence of people and animals. But do not stop here. Even if your puppy ages, continue to teach your dogs to socialize.

Dogs with good social behavior are not aggressive and are not easily scared off. Rather, they positively react to different stimuli in the environment. Dogs that are not exposed to socialization, on the other hand, are less friendly and they find it hard to fit into new situations. Owners can avoid this unfriendly behavior by roaming their pets around and doing visits around the neighborhood.

Here are the do's and don'ts in teaching your puppy to socialize:

The Do's

• Do make socializing a pleasant experience for your puppy. Avoid situations that can traumatize your pet, like injuries, since this will be imprinted in your pet's mind, thereby developing a fear of certain things.

• Get your friends to meet your puppy. The more people your puppy sees, the more he will be acquainted with them regardless of age and gender.

• Have a puppy party. Invite friends over who also have puppies so your pet can interact with them. Just make sure that the puppies you are inviting over are properly vaccinated to avoid health problems for your pet.

• Roam your puppy around and take him to different places. The more you expose your pup to crowds, the more he begins to grow familiar with these.

•Play with your puppy with different items, like bags, hats, vacuum cleaners, or anything that pose fear in them. Encourage your puppy to explore new things.

• Introduce your puppy to the stairs, collar, and leash, as well as grooming.

The Don'ts

• Do not endanger your puppy by exposing him to risks of attacks by strange animals.

• Do not hurry socialization. This usually takes time, so be patient.

• Do not overdo training. Your puppy can only take as much, given the young age and short attention span. The more you push your dog to immediately learn, the more he is likely to behave untowardly.

• Do not wait until your puppy grows up before you start the socialization process.

Training a puppy or dog can be fun, as long as you have some idea of what you are doing! For tips and advice, visit How to Train a Puppy