5 Ways To Socialize Your Dog

  Posted on March 6, 2014  by joyofliving  No comments

Socializing your dog is very important, especially from birth to 20 weeks old. During this period, exposing your dog to new places, new people, and other dogs will help you have a well socialized dog.

Here are some basic methods of socialization.

Take Your Dog to New Places

Take your puppy to three different places every week. Exposing your dog to different environments is very important. The dog that never gets out of his own home or backyard will often be a fearful dog somewhere between 12 and 24 months old.

When exposing your dog to different environments, stand in front of the grocery store or other retail store as if you are waiting for someone. This gives your dog an opportunity to experience all kinds of sensations including new sites, sounds and smells.

The park (not a dog park) is another excellent place to take your puppy.

Take Your Dogs Around A Lot Of People

Exposing your dog to new people is very important. Dogs need that exposure to keep them from being fearful of new people in the future. You can combine this exercise with taking your dog to new places. While standing in front of a grocery store there will be people who want to know if they can pet your dog, allow them to do so. This will teach your dog not to be afraid of people and that meeting new people can be a fun experience.

Exposing Your Dog To Children

Exposing your dog to children is very important. A dog perceives a child as a different creature than an adult and we want to teach them that kids are okay. Combine this exercise with taking your puppy to different locations. Allow the child to offer your puppy a treat. It won’t be long before your puppy is looking for children because they always have something good.

Take You Dog Around Other Dogs

Exposing your puppy to other dogs is very important if you want to have a dog in the future that is sociable with dogs. It is a good idea to wait until your dog has had the third round of parvo shots before introducing him to other dogs.

Make sure the dogs that you expose your puppy to are puppy friendly and current on all their vaccinations, including the parvovirus. This socialization with other dogs when your dog is young will help your be comfortable around other dogs as he gets older.

Take Your Dog To The Vets Office For A Visit

Another great place to take your dog for socialization is your vet’s office. It doesn’t have to be for treatment it can simply be for a visit. Stopping by to say hello to the ladies at the front desk and getting a treat for your puppy will teach him the vet’s office can be a fun place to go.

Following these few simple steps will lead to a nicely socialized dog that you will enjoy for the rest of his life. Dogs that aren’t socialized usually become fearful and may require training later.  Take the time to socialize now.