May 01, 2019
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Puppy Socialization – Why is it important
Puppy Socialization: Why is it important with Checklist
The greatest responsibility you have as a new puppy owner is raising a well-socialized dog. This is the key if you want your pup to grow into a happy, confident and healthy dog.
Socialization itself refers to introducing your puppy with different environments, situations and habits he will encounter throughout his life.
You must have in mind that there is only a limited time when it comes to socialization- from the age of 3 weeks to 3 months, with some individual variations, this is known as the sensitive period of socialization. This is when you have to make them comfortable with you and their future lifestyle habits (going to the vet, taking baths, meeting other dogs,...). Which would mean that good socialization allows your pet to get used to and learn, during a young age, everything they should be familiar with during their life, in order to avoid stressful situations later.
Dogs that are not adequately socialized will have behavioral problems. We can divide these disorders into two groups:
- Fearful, distrustful, and aggressive behavior or
- Lack of focus, overexcited, and too intense behavior.
For this reason, owners (especially inexperienced) are advised to take their new family member to a puppy socialization class.
But you also can do it on your own. In this case- what should you pay attention to?
The experiences your puppy collects in the socialization period should be diverse and necessarily positive. Make sure the pup feels comfortable as they learn about the world around them. As all young living beings their desire to explore through games is huge, so they should only be directed and encouraged while they collect new experiences whenever they are ready. The biggest mistake you can make during this time is to force them because they will remember these experiences as negative. Which will lead to fear and trying to avoid the same situation the next time.
For example:
If you force a puppy to a bath vs
If you show that water is just another fun playground
Puppies who have had bad experiences during bathing will always remember these situations as a bad experience and try to avoid them.
Keep in mind you’re not trying to overwhelm your puppy with new experiences – quantity is not better than quality!
What to socialize? Here is a list to help you:
- Handling
- People
- Dogs
- Other animals
- Noises
- Surfaces
- Environments
- Objects
Socialization Checklist
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HANDLING |
Checking the ears |
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Examining mouth and gums |
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Opening the eyelids |
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Touching and squeezing the nose |
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Squeezing the feet |
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Handling and trimming the toenails |
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Pinching and poking the skin |
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Cradling puppy in your arms on its back |
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Holding him in your lap and picking them up |
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Holding him on his back while giving a belly rub |
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Hugging the puppy and picking it up |
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Bath and wiping body with a towel |
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Putting on a head halter |
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Putting on a collar and/or a harness |
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Trips to the Vet |
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PEOPLE |
Elderly |
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Women |
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Tall men |
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Men with deep voices |
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Men with beards |
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People wearing hats or helmets |
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People wearing sunglasses |
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People wearing backpacks |
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People with hoodies or jackets |
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People with canes, walking sticks or walkers |
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Teenagers |
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Children – standing and playing |
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Toddlers – walking and squealing |
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Infants – crawling |
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People running by |
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DOGS |
Different breeds |
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Different ages |
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Different colors |
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Different sizes |
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Different play styles |
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* also important to teach your puppy that there are other dogs they do not get to meet |
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OTHER ANIMALS |
Any types of pets you may have or that they might meet |
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NOISES |
Thunder |
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Fireworks |
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Babies and kids |
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Alarms |
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Dogs barking |
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Doorbell wringing |
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Traffic |
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Vacuum cleaners |
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Sirens |
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SURFACES |
Concrete |
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Slippery floors |
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Metal surfaces |
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Wobbly surfaces |
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Stairs |
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Wet grass |
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Mud |
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Sand |
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Ice, frost, or snow |
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ENVIRONMENTS |
City streets – residential and high traffic |
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Suburban neighborhood |
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Shopping mall |
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Dog-friendly events – agility or obedience trial |
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Inside buildings |
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Car rides |
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OBJECTS
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Cars, Buses, Motorcycles |
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Bikes, Rollerblades, Skateboards |
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Shopping carts |
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Baby strollers |
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Wheelchairs |
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Garbage cans |
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Brooms |
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Balloons |
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Umbrellas |
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Blankets or rugs being shaken |
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Plastic bags |
- Jan 31, 2019
- in Pet Blog
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