Socialization; How

Author: Denise Partlow

Instagram: @modernk9 Carolinas

The socialization period for a puppy ends around 14 to 16 weeks however this does not mean that you should stop socializing your puppy at exactly 16 weeks. You’ll still want to continue doing everything you’ve been doing to help maintain your dog’s confidence.

Socialization for your puppy is an important part of their development. Before you start heading out into the big open world, make sure your puppy is comfortable in the car. Once he is, you are ready to go! Avoid public spaces that have high dog traffic to protect your puppy from parvovirus.

Here are some ways you can safely expose your puppy to the world:

-carry your puppy in a large tote
-let your puppy ride in a stroller
-let your puppy ride in a shopping cart with a clean blanket
-if there is a grassy area lay a blanket down for your puppy to relax on
-sit on a bench with your puppy on your lap
-hang out in your car or the cargo space of your SUV and watch the world go by-this can be useful at the parking lot of a vet’s office, a groomer’s, pet store, or anything that has multiple people or dogs walking back-and-forth.
-Bring out noisy appliances (i.e. blender, vacuum, garbage disposal) and let your puppy hear them turn on from a far enough distance where he is comfortable allowing him to approach on his own
-encourage your puppy to walk on different types of surfaces such as tile, carpet, pebbles, playground equipment etc.
-allow your dog “some” play time with other healthy puppies as well as healthy adult dogs that are friendly with puppies.
-provide your dog with handling exercises, being sure to help your puppy feel comfortable with you holding him, brushing him, holding his paws, looking inside his ears and his mouth and moving his tail.

It is extremely important that you follow your vet’s orders on keeping your puppy safe from harmful diseases but it is just as equally important that you socialize your puppy to help prevent serious behavior problems in the future, so always make sure each experience is a safe one.