How Do I Properly Socialize My Puppy?

Everyone nowadays tells you how important it is to “socialize” your puppy.  Almost anything you read online will tell you that “early socialization is very important.”  But, what does this mean?  Are we being told to introduce our puppy to as many dogs and people as possible?  Does our puppy require a large social circle to grow up to be a good dog?  Or is there more to it?

Let’s look more deeply at what “socialization” actually means in dog training.

Socializing a puppy is more than just introducing them to new people and dogs. It’s about giving them a chance to experience our everyday world; helping them get used to things that might otherwise seem scary to a young pup. While this does include people and other dogs it also includes sounds, objects, social situations, and everyday occurrences.

In dog training the term “socialization” really means exposure. Proper and early socialization is one of the easiest ways to prevent fear and reactivity in a puppy. Some pet parents keep their puppy away from the outside world because they’re worried they’ll get sick since they’re not fully vaccinated. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) has stated that there is a far greater risk of a puppy who’s been isolated to develop behavioral issues as an adult than there is of them getting sick from going outside the home.

DISCLAIMER: We still need to be responsible pet parents. Keep your puppy away from high traffic dog areas, such as parks, your building’s dog run, or spots other dogs may frequent for potty breaks. Ask guests to take their shoes off when they come in and wash their hands before meeting your pup. If you’re introducing another dog, make sure to wipe their paws and that they’ve had a bath in the not-too-distant past. All this is to prevent your puppy from encountering dog poop, small amounts could stow away on someone’s shoes, another dog’s paws, or of course be hiding in high traffic areas. This CAN get your puppy very sick!

Puppies are most open to new experiences from the ages of 3 to 12 weeks (this is referred to as the “socialization period”). A pup in this phase will approach unusual things with curiosity rather than fear. This is the time to bring in new people, other dogs, sounds, and everyday experiences.

Have friends come over and feed your dog treats. The same goes for children, just be sure you are monitoring the situation. Ring your doorbell and feed your do a treat. When you’re taking a walk and a car honks its horn give your dog a cookie (this goes for any startling sound). By giving treats in the presence of new people and sounds your dog will come to see them as positive things.

Additionally, just taking a walk and experiencing the world will help to better “socialize” your dog. The important thing to remember when walking is to keep a distance that your dog is comfortable with when encountering a new person, dog, or thing (i.e. big noisy trucks). A good rule of thumb would be to observe from across the street. This gives your dog a chance to watch and gather information. If they feel uncertain they have plenty of space to move away.

For instance, if I see another dog on my walk I’m not going to rush up and ask to say hello. Puppies in general don’t understand proper “social etiquette,” that being said, a pushy pup may be corrected by an adult dog. This runs the risk of our puppy developing a fear of other dogs.

You can get very specific in your socialization process. Go on YouTube and play traffic noises, crowd noises, dogs barking, etc. All at a low volume. While the sounds are playing do some basic obedience and reward your dog with treats (gradually increasing the volume as you do more and more sessions). Introduce your dog to people of different body types and ethnic backgrounds; people with deep voices, high pitched voices, etc. Borrow a skateboard, move it back and forth. Do all of this while doling out treats. The result is a dog who isn’t bothered by much because they’ve been exposed to it.

There is an extreme focus nowadays on “Puppy Socialization Classes” (socializing puppies with other puppies). While this has some relevance, the real key is for your dog to just observe other dogs.

As a trainer, I do recommend that puppies meet other dogs. However, I would advise you to introduce your pup to an adult dog who you know and is well behaved. A well-behaved adult will give a puppy space if they are uncomfortable and be more tolerant of impolite behaviors. This ensures that our puppy has positive interactions with and grows to like other dogs.

When we rely on socializing puppies with other puppies, there are risks. Other puppies are inexperienced and unfamiliar with proper manners. For example; if one puppy is afraid and tries to move away the other may simply pursues them anyway. This can make our dog feel unsafe. Now, we’ve created a negative experience that could lay the ground work for problematic behavior in the future.

The truth of the matter is that early socialization (or exposure) is very important for a new puppy. But, it’s not as simple as going to a “Puppy Play Class.”

If you have a new puppy and need help with socialization CLICK HERE to set up your Free Half Hour Training Evaluation and start your training journey!