When we bring a new puppy into our home, our instincts tell us to protect and keep the puppy entirely safe. However, we must introduce our puppies to as many everyday scenarios as possible, especially during the first three months. Puppies are most receptive to learning during this time, which affects their demeanor. The benefits of socialization far outweigh the time commitment. Puppies who have not been correctly socialized are frequently violent and overly afraid of humans or their surroundings.
How to get started in puppy socialization?
Puppies are often adopted between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks. Each puppy is distinct in psychological and behavioral health, and some will be further ahead in terms of exposure and socialization than others. When you bring your pup home, focus on the following areas of socialization to help them grow into happy, healthy dogs:
Exposure To Other Pets
Puppies benefit from a supervised fun puppy hour program that gives them exposure to other dogs, cats, pocket pets, and birds.
Handling
Touching, looking in the ears, examining the mouth, touching feet, trimming nails, bathing, leashing/wrapping,/harnessing, restraining (with positive reinforcement), brushing teeth, and playing with toys are all good things to introduce your puppy during this critical learning age.
Outside World/Environment
Exposing your puppy to doors, crates, autos, street drains, diverse surfaces, clothing, blankets, beds, and several other items outside is crucial for acclimating them to everyday objects.
Sounds
Try to stimulate your puppy with these sounds to acclimatize your puppy to sounds and prevent a negative reaction to loud noises such as fireworks or thunderstorms. A good way is to gradually increase the volume of recorded thunder or fireworks from sound CDs, beginning at a low level and gradually increasing to a truly loud level. Caressing, biscuits, or your puppy’s favorite toy should all be used as positive reinforcement. Automobile horns, trains, and other loud noises can also be included.
The Veterinarian
Preparation for the Veterinary Visit is just as important as the Visit itself. See your veterinarian regularly to ensure a pleasant experience for you and your puppy. Spending 10-15 minutes in the clinic lobby and engaging constructively with people and other animals (in a controlled manner) will help reduce fear and anxiety connected with future veterinarian consultations. The goal is to keep the encounter pleasant without any poking or prodding.
People
It is recommended that your dog encounter new people daily. This can happen at home or while you’re out and about. It is recommended to create a pleasant experience with treats during these encounters. Don’t forget to interact with people in uniform and children.
Puppy Training Facilities
It is vital to deal with pups in a training environment and socialize them. Positive reinforcement is essential for this form of training. Find a reputable training class or trainer who employs positive reinforcement to keep puppies happy and secure. The goal is to create favorable attitudes toward the puppy’s surroundings, humans, and commands, frequently rewarded with food.If you dream of owning your own dog daycare center, visit this link to not miss this pet franchise opportunity.
Conclusion
Puppies are not born with social abilities. They are hardwired to be distrustful of new objects. They will gain early socialization skills from their mother and siblings, but there is still work with all puppies to ensure they evolve into well-behaved adult dogs.
