Socialising your puppy
It is critical that your puppy experiences different sights, sounds and handling from a very early age to grow up into a friendly, confident adult dog.
Interaction with dogs and other animals
Let your puppy say hello to other dogs in the street. If he is a little worried do not force but give him encouragement and praise him when he has met a dog nicely.
If another dog growls at him, do not panic, this is a good way for your puppy to learn when he is being too much for another dog.
Allow your puppy to meet dogs that are smaller and larger than him as well as ducks, livestock, horses and cats
Interaction with people
Let strangers say hello and fuss your puppy. If he is a little worried, get strangers to give your puppy a treat before giving him a fuss.
Do not force your puppy to meet people and do not let strangers grab hold of him before letting the puppy approach them first.
Ensure your puppy has the opportunity to meet adults and children, people wearing different types of clothing and uniform and people behaving in different manners.
Handling your puppy
Every day, gently stroke your dog all over. Get him used to you picking up his feet, lifting his tail up, looking in his ears and holding onto his scruff. Get him used to his lead or harness by putting it on him and taking him for walks around the house or garden.
Buy a brush and groom your puppy on a daily basis so he is used to being handled.
Experiences
Introduce your puppy to new experiences and situations so that he becomes confident and happy wherever you take him.
Allow your puppy to experience noises inside and outside of the house including washing machines, vacuum cleaners, traffic, construction, aeroplanes, music and children playing.
Take your puppy into different environments such as an unfamiliar house, parks, shops and allow him to feel different textures such as sand, concrete, gravel and grass.
3 Comments
Very good site!
Could you advise me on how to integrate a boxer pup (very bouncy!) with two older labs who visit me every weekend? One is getting used to pup, thje other is traumertised! He is 8 yrs old and wot go near to pup. Growls etc are frequent.
Thank you so much for helping me on this,
great advice!
This is great advice for me, as i am hoping to get a dog from a centre. I now know what needs to happen and how. Thank you