Little Puppy in the Big World

Socialization is one of the single most important jobs of a puppy parent. Puppies have a critical socialization period that runs roughly from age three weeks to three months. During this sensitive time a puppy is developing their early view of the world around them and making associations that will carry on into adulthood.

Young puppies are primed to be open to new people, dogs, animals, environments and other experiences. As puppies grow older this acceptance of new things will fade. Fear becomes the default response to new stimuli that the dog was not exposed to as a puppy. The more you can expose your puppy early on the less fearful he will be as an adult.

It is also important to keep in mind that not all socialization is good. Although puppies are typically more accepting of new things, it is possible for them to feel scared and overwhelmed in certain situations. Those negative events can later lead to fear and phobias that can be much more difficult to deal with when they become adults.

As a puppy parent, your job is to expose your puppy to as many new things and ensure that the socialization process is a positive and fun experience. The time and effort you dedicate to early socialization will pay off big!

Puppy Talk

Knowing how to read and react to puppy body language will enable you to be smart about socializing your puppy.

This puppy is shifting their weight and their ears are back. They are scared and uncomfortable.

Some puppies will show their belly of lift their paw to show they are uncomfortable.

This puppy chooses to watch from a safe place. They aren’t ready to explore the environment.

Some puppies need time to cautiously investigate. Use treats to encourage and build confidence.

A Charted Journey

Socializing your puppy is a big task and equally important. Your puppy is always learning, so start socialization and training as soon as the puppy comes home. Remember, the goal is that the puppy has positive experiences, not neutral or bad ones. You can pay attention to your puppy’s body language to give you clues about his comfort level. Use treats generously to help form positive associations. If your puppy is scared or uncomfortable, immediately create space between your puppy and the scary thing. Once he is relaxed you can encourage him to approach by using treats. Never force a puppy to interact with something that may be scary to him.

Feel free to use our socialization charts to keep track of your puppy’s progress. You can grade your puppy’s response to each exposure or just check them off as you go.

  • If your puppy responds with over arousal (growling, nipping, barking, struggling, lunging), rate the exposure a 1.
  • If your puppy responds with avoidance (struggling, hiding, hesitation, refusal to approach), rate the exposure a 2.
  • If your puppy responds with freezing (holding still while not accepting treats, moving slowly, acting sleepy when they shouldn’t be tired), rate the exposure a 3.
  • If your puppy responds in a calm, relaxed manner with treats (playful, exploring, focused on the food), rate the exposure a 4.
  • If your puppy responds in a calm, relaxed manner with no treats (playful, exploring, even without food to motivate them), rate the exposure a 5.

Ways to Handle Your Puppy:

Massage Ears
Examine Mouth and Gums
Open Eyelids
Touch Nose
Touch Between Toes
Handle and Trim Toenails
Cradle like a Baby
Tug Tail Lightly
Gently Grab Body Parts
Lightly Grab Collar
Hold Head
Give Belly Rub
Wipe Body with Towel
Put on Harness
Put on Head Halter

People to Introduce Your Puppy to:

Women
People of Other Ethnicities
Tall Men
Men with Deep Voices
Older Adults
People Running
Infants (Crawling)
Toddlers (Walking, Squealing)
Children (Standing, Playing)
Teenagers
People Wearing Hats or Helmets
People Wearing Hoodies or Heavy Coats
People Wearing Backpacks
People Wearing Sunglasses
People Using Canes, Walkers, or Crutches
People Wearing Costumes

Sounds to Expose Your Puppy to:

Doorbell Ringing
Phone Ringing
Babies Crying
Garage Door Opening
Jackhammer / Construction Noises
Shopping Carts
Vacuum Cleaner
Beeping (Microwave, Alarm)
Washing Machine / Dryer
Clapping
Sirens
Fire Alarms

Wheeled Objects to Show Your Puppy:

Skateboards
Rollerblaodes
Rolling Garbage Bins
Shopping Carts
Wheel Chains
Bikes
Cars
Buses / Trucks
Motorcycles / Scooters
Trains

Other Objects to Show Your Puppy:

Pots and Pans
Blankets or Rugs Being Shaken
Brooms and Mops
Balloons
Umbrellas
Plastic Bags
Sidewalk Signs
Paper Bags
Car Keys
Automatic Doors

Toys to Let Your Puppy Play With:

Fuzzy Toys
Big Exercise Balls
Tennis Balls
Hard Toys
Squeaky Toys
Rope Toys / Tug Toys

Places to Take Your Puppy:

Suburbs
Residentail City Streets
High Traffic City Streets
Mall Parking Lots
Inside Buildings

Experiences to Let Your Puppy Have:

Fun Crate Training
Going Up and Down Stairs
Going In and Out of Doorways
Getting a Bath
Playing Hide and Seek
Going Through a Tunnel
Climbing Over an Obstacle
Walking on a Wobbly Surface

Types of Dogs to Let Your Puppy Meet:

Unfamiliar Dogs
Small Dogs
Big Dogs
A Dog Who Corrects with Force
Other Puppies

Other Types of Animals to Let Your Puppy Meet:

Cats
Horses
Birds / Ducks
Small Animals
Livestock

Surfaces for Your Puppy to Walk On:

Concrete
Slippery Floors
Metal Surfaces
Wobbly Surfaces
Stairs
Wet Grass and Mud

Places to Take Your Puppy (After They’ve Finished Their Shots):

Pet Stores
Dog-Friendly Events
Dog-Friendly Hikes / Trails
Dog Parks
Doggy Daycare

Use yummy treats and praise when you puppy is introduced to new things and environments. If your puppy is scared or shy, move further away from the scary stimuli and give lots of yummy treats. Let your puppy choose the pace; never force your puppy to interact with something that may be scary for them.

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