How To Socialize a Puppy

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When you first get a puppy, they’re adorable, fluffy and endearing. As cute as they may be, if you don’t properly socialize a puppy, they can grow up to be absolute nightmares. It’s important to socialize your puppy early, so they can learn how to coexist with humans, and other animals. It’s common that people will buy a puppy, but not put in the time and effort to socialize it, resulting in the dog having behavioral issues as it gets older. Once these dogs get older and start displaying the telltale signs of poor socialization, their owners abandon them. If you’re planning on introducing a puppy into your household, here are some things you need to know.

When To Socialize Your Puppy

Puppies as young as 7 to 8 weeks old can begin socialization training. 7 days before socializing, veterinarians suggest at least one round of vaccinations and the first round of deworming.

Continued socialization and exposure to different surroundings beyond your puppy’s first 12 to 14 weeks of life is critical. This encourages positive conduct. It is critical to provide a pleasant atmosphere for pups to feel safe and comfortable while learning new skills.

What is the Best Way to Socialize a Puppy?

Puppy socialization can take place at home, in lessons, or at puppy playdates. Meeting new people and dogs isn’t the only part of socializing your new puppy.

Your puppy requires fresh sights, noises, and sensations to thrive. Allowing your puppy to play with other dogs and young children in a controlled environment, as well as allowing your puppy to interact with a variety of people, is ideal. Dogs are innately social creatures, it’s important to nurture this instinct when they’re young, so they learn to coexist with humans and other animals.

Here’s a link to some of our pups!

Is there anything special I should do to socialize my puppy?

Take things slowly and be mindful of your dog’s boundaries when socializing your puppy. Make the encounters fun and rewarding by providing plenty of snacks and praise. To your puppy, everything is new, so every interaction is an opportunity to form a good relationship.

When exposing your puppy to adult dogs, try not to be stressed since your puppy will pick up on it. Take little steps and avoid taking on too much at once. Introduce your puppy to relatives and strangers gradually; if he or she becomes overwhelmed, he or she may develop a frightened reaction to big groups or settings in adulthood.