PUPPY SOCIALISATION

Socialisation is so important for puppies and will help them grow into a friendly and confident adult. It teaches them how to interact with other dogs and humans appropriately and how to react to new situations and surroundings. A puppy that is unsocialised or socialised poorly is more likely to have behaviour problems such as anxieties or fear in new situations or with other animals and humans. This can easily be prevented by introducing your pup to animals and people in a positive way from a young age. The socialisation period is generally from 6 to 14 weeks old, this is the critical time to start exposing your pup to different types of dogs, people, places etc.As your puppy gets older they will become more cautious and it will be harder to socialise as they will be less eager and comfortable approaching with new people and dogs, this is why the socialisation starts young as they will be more likely to make positive experiences. Socialisation should continue after the critical period, especially for the first year, to build on their confidence.

Golden Rules of Socialisation

All experiences must be positive! Socialisation is supposed to help your pup be comfortable and confident in the big world and how to react to other dogs and people. If they have a bad experience they will quickly learn that that situation is bad and will try to avoid it in the future.

Create positive situations by choosing the situation and playmates carefully and making sure it is appropriate. Take treats and toys (if appropriate) with you and make the experience fun and positive for your dog.

Watch your dog’s body language and behaviour. If they start to look anxious or fearful, such as backing away or cowering, then calmly take your pup away from the situation and move on to something you know they are comfortable with. It might be that it was too much too soon. Though we should expose our pups to many things during this time it should be done gradually. Start slowly and set your pup up for success. Remember pups tire quickly so keep the encounters short.

Other Dogs

It is really important that pups learn how to behaviour and interact appropriately with other dogs. Their mums and littermates often start this training but it is important that they meet a range of dogs of different sizes and breeds so they aren’t frightened of certain breeds they have never met before when older.

Choose the dogs you mix with carefully, especially at first as your puppy is likely not to have any manners and may get itself in trouble. Make sure you find a dog that is comfortable around puppies and playful but not too rough or enthusiastic as this may scare your little pup. A well socialised adult dog will teach your pup how to interact and communicate properly as well as important skills such as not using teeth or jumping on them. Sometimes puppies need telling off, they need to learn that certain behaviours are not allowed and not all dogs want to play. It’s okay if the adult dog tells off your pup as long as it is an appropriate response. Remember to watch the body language and to intervene if either of the dogs is getting uncomfortable.

Puppies often mix well with other puppies as they like to play and have a lot of energy. However, they are likely to learn unwanted behaviours from each other rather than learning how to interact appropriately. If you mix your pup with another young dog, make sure that they all get experience with older dogs who will help with their manners.

* It is important that any dog you mix your pup with is fully vaccinated to stop them catching a serious illness!

People

It is just as important to introduce your puppy to people of different ages, sizes, races and people with different looks such as having a moustache, wearing a hat or cap, a person in uniform or with a wheelchair. Exposing them to all these different people and situations now will prevent them being worried or unsure of new people in the future.

Most puppies love to meet people, and people love to meet puppies. However, watch your pup carefully to make sure it doesn’t get overwhelmed or uncomfortable. Start with one or two new people rather than many and ask them to crouch down to meet your pup as people looming over them can be worrying. Never pass your puppy over to someone, instead put them on the ground and let them approach the new person when they feel comfortable. Don’t force them ove or use treats to lure them, let them explore in their own time. Similarly, ask the person not to pick up or hold the puppy as this prevents them from moving away if they get uncomfortable and can make them feel trapped. Puppies should meet children as well as adults but they should be supervised at all times and told how to interact with the puppy appropriately.

Watch your puppy to ensure they are comfortable and having positive experiences, this will help them learn that people are exciting and should not be met with fear.

Places and Situations

As well as socialisation, we have to get our pups comfortable in different environments and situations such as household noises (hairdryer/hoover etc), being in the car, walking near the road, bikes, fireworks etc. Getting your pup comfortable with these situations and experiences is known as habituation and should also be started during this critical period.

By exposing your puppy to these sights, smells and sounds at a young age and in a positive way they are less likely to react to them in the future. The important thing to remember is to go slow, make it positive and go back if your puppy is showing any signs of stress. You can start exposing your pup to the outside world before they are vaccinated by carrying them around outside in your arms. This keeps them safe from germs but allows them to begin experiencing being outside, feel wind or rain, hear the sound of cars, see different people etc. If your pup is anxious then go back inside and start slower, some pups are shy and need more time than others.

You can find sound CDs online which play different sounds your puppy will encounter in their life such as household sounds, fireworks, sirens. Start by playing these quietly and praise your pup when they are comfortable, gradually increase the volume as long as your pup isn’t showing signs of stress. Make it a fun experience by playing with your pup or giving them a chew while the sounds are on.

Alternatively you can use the actual objects in the house and slowly introduce them to your dog. For example allow your pup to sniff and explore the hoover while it is off first. Start by turning it on just for a second so your pup hears it and gradually increase the amount of time it is on for. Make sure your pup is comfortable and relaxed at each stage before moving on.

It sounds like there is a lot to remember but socialisation is fun for you and your pup. The important thing to remember is to try to expose them to a range of different dogs, people and experiences and to keep things positive. Praise and treat your pup every step of the way.