Puppy Socialization
Puppy socialization is one of the most important parts of raising a dog & it is important to start early. The goal is that the puppy has positive experiences with socialization, not neutral or bad ones.
The most important time for socialization is when your puppy is younger than 3 months of age. Encourage your puppy to explore & discover new situations, smells, animals & people.
Make sure to reinforce positive behavior with treats, pets & lots of praise. If your puppy seems overwhelmed from one of these situations, do not force it. Let your puppy have some space & try again (you can try again another day if needed).
People
- Men
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- Men with beards
- Very tall men
- Women
- Elderly people
- Children
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- Babies under 2
- Babies crying
- Toddlers
- Young children
- Teenagers
- Children playing
- Babies under 2
- People with hats
- People of many ethnicities
- People with masks
- People wearing sunglasses
- People with backpacks
- People carrying boxes or groceries
- People with canes, walkers or walking sticks
- People sitting & lying down
- People on golf carts
- People mowing lawn
- People running
- People who shuffle or limp
- People on crutches
- People in wheelchairs & electric scooters
- People throwing a ball (such as a football)
Animals
- Other puppies
- Adult dogs who play well
- Adult dogs who will reprimand/correct a puppy gently
- Big dogs (such as Great Dane, Mastiff)
- Very small dogs
- Very fluffy dogs
- Dogs with no tails
- Dogs with cropped ears
- Cats
- Horses
- Livestock (cows, goats, sheep)
- Flying birds
- Walking birds (ducks, ducklings, chickens)
- Any other pets in the home (hamsters, birds, etc)
- Lizards (iguanas)
Moving Objects
- Bikes
- Skateboards
- Rollerblades
- Scooters
- Baby strollers
- Shopping carts
- Balloons
- Umbrellas
- Motorcycles
- Cars
- Trucks
- Buses
- Loud vehicles
- Cars honking
- Things blowing in the wind
- Garbage cans on wheels
- Drive through car wash
Sounds
- Thunder
- Fireworks
- Babies crying
- Dogs barking
- Other animal sounds
- Planes taking off
- Doorbells & door knocking
- Jack hammers & other construction equipment
- Car backfiring
- Garage door
- Gunshots
- Vacuum
- Dishwasher, washing machine
- Alarms (smoke & security)
- Loud music
- TX/Video Games
- Sirens
- Traffic (including high traffic areas)
Handling/Touching
- Picking your puppy up
- Pulling & holding the collar or harness
- Lifting ears to examine
- Lifting tail to examine
- Lifting & touching paws
- Gently pinching nails
- Opening mouth to examine
- Hugging puppy
- Extending each leg
- Wiping off body with towel
- Holding in lap
- Holding puppy on back while giving belly rub
- Putting on a halter, collar & harness
New Surfaces
- Water, puddles
- Concrete
- Gravel
- Different carpets, rugs
- Slick tile
- Metal surfaces (vet exam table, scale)
- Stairs (carpet & concrete)
- Mud
- Ice, snow, frost
- Wet grass
- Wobbly agility equipment
- Grates
- Manhole covers
Situations
- Vet’s office
- Grooming salon
- Long car rides
- Stop-and-go traffic
- In a crate on public transit
- Hiking trails, lakes & ponds
- Busy streets & sidewalks
- Inside dog-friendly buildings like Home Goods
- Mall parking lot
- Inside a dog-friendly mall
- Outdoor, dog-friendly patios
- Parks
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- Parks with lots of people
- Parks with lots of children
- Dog parks
- Schools
- Friends’ houses
- Allowing other well socialized dogs in your house
- Dog friendly events & outdoor markets
