Socializing your puppy can be one of the hardest things that you will come across. The time and effort that you invest in this ask are exponential to the success factor.
Puppy socialization kicks off the minute you pick up your furry friend. The initial 16 weeks is crucial as it is this time frame that shapes the character of your puppy. We recommend socializing your puppy with as many as preferable objects and scenarios during this period.
So how do I socialize my dog? Make sure that your puppy is accustomed to the following objects and scenarios during that initial critical period.
People
Different gender: Male and female
- Different types: Let him accustom to babies, teenagers, adult and the elderly in addition to people from different ethnicities.
- Crowd: take him to park and let him familiarize with crowd and joggers
- Different attires: ideal to expose him to people wearing different attires ranging from single sunglasses to hat
- Different reactions: Let him experience shouting, laughing, talking aloud, singing and even crying
Animals
Dogs: Let him meet your friend’s or neighbor’s male and female dogs. Taking your puppy to a dog park is also a good idea
Other animals on the list are cats, kittens, chicken, duck, cows, and birds. It is always ideal to try and get your puppy to familiarize with the type of animals that he might encounter in your locality
Environments
Getting your puppy to familiarize with other environments in addition to your house is important. Take him to a veterinary clinic for regular checkups. Also, include the following places and scenarios in your list:
- Beaches
- Tunnels
- Car rides
- Pet shops
- Swimming pools and
- Coffee shops
Experiences
This is one of the most important aspects of puppy socializing. Ensure that your puppy is accustomed sensations of touching on different parts of his body like legs, belly, and ears. Tie him up occasionally and also let him experience being brushed and bathed.
Noises
Getting your puppy to acclimatize to different types of noises can be challenging. Include these noise types in your list:
- Vacuum cleaner
- Lawnmower
- Fan
- Hair dyer
- Traffic
- Parties
- Fireworks
- Dishwasher
- Doorbells
- Barking
- Thunderstorms
- Sires and musical instruments
Objects
Puppies can be really curious and they usually taste to tell. This is where accustoming them with different objects within your household can be a blessing.
- Sprinklers
- Mirrors
- Furniture
- Prams
- Balloons
- Toys (Dog & Kids)
- Umbrella and
- Wheelchairs
Loneliness
Being away from your puppy might feel impossible. However, it is important for you to be aware of the fact that puppies need to familiarize themselves with loneliness well. Failing to do so can lead to issues like separation anxiety.
Consider leaving him alone for short intervals within your household. You can let him roam around in your backyard for some time and increase the duration as you proceed to let him know that it is normal to be alone on some occasions.
As said earlier, the task of puppy socializing can be time-consuming and will require lots of repetitive work. Be patient with your puppy as it can be a confusing and difficult time for him.