Puppy Socialization

When you think about puppy training, what comes to mind might be how to teach them where to go to the bathroom; or how to teach them to sit and stay on command; or maybe how not to jump on people. But at the top of everyone’s list should be how to socialize a puppy. This is because a well socialized pup is so much easier to train. When a puppy is not properly socialized they tend to be fearful. That fear causes them to be less focused on you and more focused on what they are afraid of. This makes training very difficult.

However, if you have ever looked at some of the puppy socialization checklists, the process can feel a bit overwhelming. I know I was. But it doesn’t have to be. Join us as we show you easy steps to follow to socialize your puppy.

What is Puppy Socialization?

Puppy socialization is the process of introducing your puppy to everyday events in a calm and secure environment. The reason you want to do this, is to teach your puppy not to be afraid.

An example of this would be a vacuum. You and me know it is not something to be afraid of. But that loud sound can be very frightening to a puppy that doesn’t know what it is. This is where you come in. It’s your job to turn the scary things in life into non scary things.

When Can You Start to Socialize a Puppy?

The puppy socialization process starts with their first ride in your car as you bring them home. That very first experience with your new puppy is teaching them what you are like and what it is like to go for a car ride with you. If they have a pleasant experience and continue to have pleasant experiences in the car, they will learn to love the car. However if it’s a traumatic experience your puppy might hate car rides for the rest of their life. But no pressure.

The reality is puppy socialization starts before your puppy comes to live with you. They begin to learn about the world through interactions with their previous family, the puppy’s mom and their litter mates. Hopefully what they have learned before living with you was positive. But even if it wasn’t, at 7 or 8 weeks old they are still young enough to overcome any bad experiences they may have had. You just need to give them lots of good ones.

Limited Time to Socialize a Puppy

The time you have to socialize your puppy is not unlimited. Puppies are most open to new things prior to 3 months old. Sometime between 3 and 4 months old your puppy will naturally start to become weary of the unknown.  But that doesn’t mean you should stop socializing them after 4 months old. A dog that has been taught to be confident will continue to be open to new things for life.

Health Concerns

Although it’s important to socialize a puppy early, it’s equally important not to expose them to deadly diseases before they are fully vaccinated. You can safely socialize your puppy in your home assuming there are no other non-vaccinated dogs.   Start the process by introducing them to all the sights and sounds that make your home a home. But do it slowly. Too much too soon can be overwhelming to a small pup that was just taken from the only home they knew.

First on the list should be the members of their new family and any other animals in the house. Next show them where they will sleep and eat.  Keep your puppy close to the family as much as possible so they can see and hear everything that is happening.

Taking it outside

Socializing your puppy outside of your home has its risks. But the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommends that you start to socialize a puppy in safe places outside of your home once a puppy has received their first set of vaccinations and deworming at around 7 to 8 weeks old. But make sure it is a safe place. Pet stores and dog parks are not safe places for young puppies. For safe places to socialize your puppy check out our post, 5 Safe and Easy Ways to Socialize a Puppy

How to Socialize a Puppy  

As I mentioned above the process of socializing your puppy can be overwhelming if you try to do everything on the checklist before your puppy reaches 4 months old. Plus some of the items on the list may not even be necessary. An example of this is taking your puppy to a pet store. It is not necessary that your puppy go to a pet store. Any type of outing that involves people and other animals should suffice. In fact a pet store is not a safe place to take a puppy that has not been fully vaccinated, yet it was found on multiple checklists.

I strongly suggest that you use a checklist as a guide to help you think of all the things they should be exposed to. But you should prioritize what is most important to you and start there.

How to Introduce a Puppy to Something New

The most important thing to remember is to make sure the experience is a good one. One bad experience will last a lifetime. Also you do not need to make a big deal out of every new experience your puppy has. Your Puppy will learn that the sound of clanging pots and pans are just the normal sounds of making dinner without a special introduction. Same thing goes for noisy kids or any other sounds they will encounter in everyday life. As long as the puppy is not hurt they will learn that these noises are just the way things are when living with a family.

For new things that frighten your puppy, give them a treat to distract them the next time they are exposed to it. That way they will begin to association the event with something good.  This trick should work for new experiences but may not work if the puppy has already developed a fear of the event.

Exercise 1: Introducing Something New

As I mentioned above most puppies are afraid of the vacuum due to the loud noise they make. So it is your job to show your pup that the vacuum will not hurt them. Here are simple steps to teach your puppy not to be afraid of the vacuum.

• Start the process by leaving the vacuum on the floor where they can see and smell it.
• Don’t force them to go near the vacuum. When they are ready, they will explore it on their own.
• After they are done smelling it, turn it on. Make sure they are a safe distance from it. Since they will not expect the loud noise, turning it on right next to them will frighten them.
• Vacuum the room like normal while the puppy is close by. Try not to get too close to them. You don’t want them to think the vacuum is chasing them. They will most likely be afraid but curious at the same time.
• While you are vacuuming throw some treats around the room you are vacuuming in. Keep the vacuum away from the treats.
• Do not engage in your puppy while you are vacuuming.
• Repeat this process each time you need to vacuum.

Over time your puppy will become use to the vacuum. They may even start to like it if they get treats every time it comes out.

The Goal is to Build Confidence

It’s impossible to introduce your puppy to everything they may encounter in life in their first few months. Therefore your goal is to teach your pup to be comfortable with new experiences. A puppy that is taught not to be afraid will grow up to be a confident dog. This also means teaching them how to react when they encounter something new.

Remember you are their greatest teacher. As a puppy they will learn to count on you to keep them safe. They will also learn how to react to things based on how you react. If you remain calm your puppy will also feel calm.

You may not realize this but your dog can pick up on subtle clues when you are feeling stress. Although well known by dog lovers this knowledge was re-affirmed by a recent study in Sweden. They compared the stress levels in dogs to their owners by measuring the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in their hair. They found that there was a strong correlation between the dog’s long-term cortisol levels and their owners.

Socialization Process

The socialization process can be broken down into four main parts: Handling; Sounds; Interactions; and Experiences. We will take a look at each one and give easy ways to accomplish them.

Handling

Handling refers to touching your pup in places they may not like. Places like their paws, ears, tail and mouth. It also means to be able to restrain them calmly when needed. Typically puppies don’t like to be handled. They want their freedom.

However learning to be handled is a very important life skill for dogs. A puppy that is not taught to be comfortable with being handled will make a difficult patient in the veterinarian’s office. It also will be difficult and dangerous to cut their nails or to groom them. Puppies that are not taught to be handled may become aggressive as an adult when someone tries to touch them.

Exercise 2: Handling

It’s easy to teach your puppy to become comfortable with handling. Try to do this exercise every day for the first month. Then do it a few times a month until they are an adult. It works best after some playtime or exercise, right before they are ready for a nap.

• Start by sitting on the floor next to your puppy.
• Pick them up and gently lay them on their back in your lap. Be careful of their back when you flip them. You want to make sure your puppy feels comfortable and secure. They will probably try to flip over but don’t let them. Talk calmly to your puppy and pet them to help relax them.
• Once they have relaxed in your lap, start to touch them in different places. I provided a list below of places to touch them but don’t do everything every time you do this exercise. Pick a couple of spots to focus on each time.
• Remember this is supposed to be a positive experience. Stop if your puppy is really struggling and try again later.
• If your puppy really doesn’t like this exercise try giving them a treat to distract them.
• If possible have other people you know and trust to perform the exercise as well. That way they will learn to be handled by a variety of people.

Handing Socialization List

Sounds

Many dogs are afraid of loud sounds like the vacuum, fireworks or thunderstorms. For sounds you can control like the vacuum follow the steps above on ‘How to Introduce your Puppy to Something New’. But for sounds that you cannot control, like thunder, you either need to wait for a storm to happen or you can use a YouTube video that play the sounds. I personally did not find the videos affective because it lacked the vibrations you feel in real storms. However if you have top of the line speakers you may be able to get the same effect as a real storm.

Sirens are another scary sound that might be hard to introduce them to. However, some volunteer firehouses have an open house for the community. You could attend one with your pup and ask if they will play the sirens.

Exercise 3: Thunderstorms

• To introduce your puppy to the sounds of thunder keep a watch on the weather forecast to see when the next storm might be.
• Then try to make arrangements so you are with your puppy at the time of the storm.
• Gather a few toys and treats your puppy really likes before the storm hits.
• When the storm starts to become loud, watch your puppy to see if they notice the sound.
• Remember at this age they will react the same way you do. If you ignore the storm chances are so will they.
• You want to distract your puppy from the sound as much as possible.
  • Play a game of tug or fetch
  • Work on some simple commands like sit and stay. Remember to reward them with their favorite treat to keep their focus.
  • Play the Go Find game. In the Go Find game you scatter small pieces of their favorite treat around the room for them to go find.
• Do Not make a big deal of them being scared or of the sound. You need to act as you always do.

Sounds Socialization List

Our Story

Since Bella was born in December she was over 6 months old the first time she heard fireworks. Even though the sound was new she was confident enough that she did not over react when she heard them.

Interactions

Interactions means meeting new people, dogs, or other animals.   Make sure you introduce your pup to a wide range of people and animals.   This includes a groomer if you have a dog that will need to be groomed.

An easy way to introduce your puppy to other dogs is to take them to a Puppy Socials.  Puppy socials allow you to introduce your pup to other puppies in a safe environment.   Look for a puppy social that is run by an experienced dog trainer. They should require proof of up-to-date vaccinations and deworming.   Not only will your pup get to meet and play with other puppies, you get the benefit of a trainer who can help you understand what normal play is versus aggressive play.  To learn more about Puppy Socials read Puppy Social – What to Expect.

Exercise 4: Interactions with People

An easy and safe way to introduce your puppy to new people is to do it in your home.

• Invite people you know to come over and meet your new puppy. We invited the neighborhood kids to come over.
• Keep the invite to only one or two people at a time
• Allow the puppy to sniff the newcomers
• Most puppies love to meet new people but if your puppy appears scared asked your guess to ignore them
• Make sure your puppy has a safe place they can retreat to if they want
• As you interact with your guess your puppy will follow your lead and start to relax around them.
• When your puppy is ready to meet them they will move closer to your guest.
• Remember the experience needs to be positive so don’t invite people who do not like dogs.
• Ask people to wear different clothing (Hats, glasses dark coat, etc.)

Interactions Socialization List

Try to introduce your puppy to a wide range to people and animals. But don’t worry if you miss one or two. If your puppy has had a good experience with most people they will assume all people are good. Most issues with dogs not liking certain types of people come from a bad experience they had with that type of person.

Experiences

Experiences can be anything your dog may encounter in their life.  Things like going swimming or having a bicyclist past by. Think about how you plan to include your dog in your activities, than slowly introduce them to it. Start out with a less stressful experience like wearing a collar and walking on a leash. When they have mastered that you can move on to a more stressful situation like walking on the sidewalk on a busy street. 

An easy way to provide a vartiety of experiences in a safe environment is to go to Puppy Kindergarten. In Puppy Kindergarten, your pup will learn basic commands like sit, stay and come. In addition they will meet new people and their pups. They will also be exposed to things like being handled by a trainer or playing on different surfaces. Look for a puppy kindergarten that requires proof of vaccines and deworming. If they don’t require proof, look for another place.

Exercise 5: Practice Being Alone

Puppies are social creatures that want to be with us all the time. If it was up to them they would stay by our side always. But for most of us that is not possible. Since being alone is not something most puppies want, they need to be taught that being alone is ok. Our next exercise shows you how.

• It’s important that your start off slow with this process. It will take weeks before your puppy will accept that he needs to be left alone sometimes.
• Start when your puppy is young by placing them in their crate with a special treat or SAFE toy.
• Make the crate comfortable with something to lie on and a shirt or blanket that smells like you.
• Leave the room for a couple of minutes. At least until your puppy realizes you have left.
• Come back in the room
• Do not make a big deal of leaving or coming back
• If your puppy is crying do not let them out of the crate. Wait in the room until they have stopped crying and then let them out.
• Continue this exercise daily increasing the time.
• This exercise will teach your pup that you will always come back.

Once you have increased the time to a half hour try leaving your home for short periods of time. Remember to always give them a treat.

Experiences Socialization List

It’s impossible to come up with a comprehensive list of experiences. The most important thing to think about is what your life is like now and what you plan to be dong in the next 15 years. Then try to include your puppy in as many of those experiences as you can early on.

Here are 5 Safe and Easy Ways to Socialize your Puppy before they are four months old.

Where NOT to Socialize a Puppy

There are certain places you should never take your puppy before they are fully vaccinated. This includes any places where an unvaccinated dog might go. Places like pet stores or dog parks at not safe. If you must bring your puppy into a pet store carry them around.

Don’t Overdo It

Remember not to overdo it. When you socialize your puppy take it slow. Give your puppy time to rest in between new experiences. It is also important to make sure they have a safe place they can retreat to when they start to become over whelmed. Too much too soon can cause your puppy to become over stimulated and stressed.

The purpose of puppy socialization is to help your pup feel confident with the world around them.  A confident, at ease dog will be easy to control and a pleasure to be with.

Common Socialization Mistakes

Sometimes, even though we have the best of intentions, we still make mistakes during the socialization process.  Here are 10 common puppy socialization mistakes you don’t want to make.

For More on How to Socialize a Puppy

The dogs pictured in this post are a sample of the wonderful dogs that can be found on Petfinder.com (including our own Bella). I strongly suggest that you check out Petfinder.com the next time you are looking for a dog.

Why Puppy Socialization is So Important

If you have or are planning to get a new puppy, you may have heard that the key to a happy, well-adjusted, well behaved dog is to socialize them properly as a puppy.  The reason for this is that puppy socialization teaches your puppy about the world around them. Through interactions with other living and non living things, they will learn what is safe and what is not. It also teaches your puppy how they should react to commmon situations. A puppy that has not been socialized properly may grow up to be fearful of the unknown

To give you an idea of just how important it is to socialize your puppy the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior issued a position statement on the subject.  In AVSAB’s Position Statement on Puppy Socialization, it states that “it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated”.  They go on to say that “early and adequate socialization and programs of positive training can go a long way to preventing behavior problems”. Studies have shown that behavior problems are caused by poor socialization and is the number 1 reason dogs are surrendered to shelters. It is also the primary cause of death for dogs under three years of age. 

Having had a dog that was not properly socialized as a puppy, I can attest that it does cause you and your dog hardships for their entire life.

Our Story

After having a rescue dog with many behavioral and medical issues we decided that our next dog would not be a rescue. This time we were going to look for a reputable local breeder.    But we really didn’t know what breed of dog we wanted, so we decided to look at puppy stores just to see what was available.  This of course, was a mistake.

Molly

Molly was the cutest, little tail wagging puppy I had ever seen.   She was a 2 month old friendly English Springer Spaniel that just wanted to play.  When we took her to a room to play with her she was so excited that she was literally sliding up the walls. I told my husband that she was too hyper for us (actually I told him the dog was crazy) and that we shouldn’t buy from a puppy store, but he was falling for her.   I convinced him not buy her and left the store.

But he couldn’t stop thinking about her and two months later he stopped by the store to find that she was still there.  After hearing that she was going to be put down, we decided to buy her at a steeply discount price.  

At this point Molly had been living in the store for two months.  Since she was a puppy mill puppy, I assume she was born in a crate and lived in one until she was shipped thousands of miles to the store.  

We knew puppy mill puppies could have medical issues, what we didn’t know at the time was that living in that environment for so long, severely affected her social skills. 

Social Skills

Soon after bringing her home we started noticing Molly’s lack of social awareness.  Since she was four months old and fully vaccinated we were free to take her out for walks to the local park. We had a friend that lived near the park that we would visit on the way.   There we would meet up with other dog parents to chat and our pups were free to mingle. But Molly always seemed to annoy the other dogs.   She didn’t notice the social clues they were giving her.  One day, one of the adult dogs snapped at her.  She took notice at the time, but continued to be clueless around other dogs. This lead to her being bit in the park by an older dog who did not appreciate her high energy.  

When she turned 6 months we sent her to doggy day care a few times a week to socialize with other dogs, but just like at the park she didn’t seem to be able to get along with the other dogs.  Again she was bitten. By the time she was 1 year old she started to go on the offense. When she met another dog, she would bite them before they bit her.  This was a problem. 

Afraid of People

Molly was also afraid of people.   She was ok with adults, though she would urinate whenever an adult would pay attention to her, sometimes on their feet.  Children were a different story.  She was afraid to let them near her.  If they got too close she would let out a warning bark.   We were afraid that one day she would bite a child, like she did with dogs.

Over time she learned to trust people and we learned she could not be near other dogs.   Although we were able to correct some of her issues through training, she never completely overcame her fears. I do believe all her issues arose from not being socialized at that critical stage in her life.

What is Puppy Socialization? 

Socializing your puppy means introducing them to as many new people, places, sounds, and experiences that can be safely achieved without causing overstimulation. The optimal time to socialize your puppy is before they are 3 months old. Sometime between the ages of 3 and 4 months your puppy will naturally start to become weary of the unknown.  Now that doesn’t mean you should stop socializing them after 4 months. It just means they are the most open to new things before 3 months old.

But exposing your pup to new experiences is not enough. You want to teach them how to react when encountering something new.  To do this you must be calm when exposing them to new situations.  You can also use distraction as a way to keep your pup calm. Giving them their favorite treat can turn a frightening experience into a pleasant one.

In a recent study Swedish researchers compared the stress levels in dogs to their owners by measuring levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their hair.  It was found that there was a strong correlation between the dogs long-term stress levels and their owners.

When to Start Socializing

Puppies start the socialization process when they are still with their litter.  They follow clues from their mother regarding the rules of the house and they learn about proper play through interactions with their littermates.   But when you bring your puppy home, you become their primary teacher.

Socialization can begin inside your house as soon as you bring them home.  Introduce them to the other members of your family, to where they will sleep and to their new food bowls.  If you plan to crate train them, you should introduce them to the crate.

For simple steps to get you started on crate training read: Crate Training Made Easy

According to the AVSAB position you can start to socialize them in safe places outside of your home once your puppy has received their first set of vaccinations and deworming at around 7 to 8 weeks old.

How to Socialize a Puppy  

The socialization process can be broken down into main three categories:

Handling

Handling means getting your pup used to being touched, either by you, family members, the groomer, the veterinarian or other people.  It can be as simple as having new people pet them or a trip to the veterinarian.

When working on handling your pup, think about all the things that might be done to your pup as they grow up. Things like grabbing their ears, looking in their ears, holding their paws, touching their nose, rubbing their tummy and holding them in your lap.

Interactions

Interactions are meeting new people, dogs, or other animals.   Make sure you introduce your pup to a wide range of people and animals.  

Puppy Socials are a great way to introduce your pup to new people and puppies in a safe place.   Most puppy socials are run by professional trainers who require proof that the puppies are up-to-date with their vaccinations and deworming.   Not only will your pup get to meet and play with other puppies, you get the benefit of a trainer who can help you understand what normal play is versus aggressive play.  To learn more about Puppy Socials read Puppy Socialization Classes- What to expect

Experiences

Experiences can be anything your dog may encounter in their life.  Think about how you plan to include your dog in your activities, than slowly introduce them to it. Start out with a less stressful experience like getting used to wearing a collar and walking on a leash. When they have mastered that you can move on to a more stressful situation like walking on the sidewalk on a busy street. 

A good way to provide experiences in a safe environment is to go to Puppy Kindergarten. In Puppy Kindergarten, your pup will be exposed to different dog owners and their pups. In addition to new people and dogs they will learn basic commands like sit, stay and come. They will also be exposed to things like being handled by a trainer or playing on different surfaces. However, if you find a puppy kindergarten or puppy social that does not require proof of vaccines and deworming look for another place.

Here are 5 Safe and Easy Ways to Socialize your Puppy before they are four months old.

Don’t Overdo It

Remember not to overdo it. Puppy socialization should take place over time with time in between for your puppy to rest and feel safe.  Too much too soon can cause your puppy to become over stimulated and stressed. The main purpose of puppy socialization is to help your pup feel confident with the world around them.  A confident, at ease dog will be easy to control and a pleasure to be with.

Sometimes, even though we have the best of intentions, we still make mistakes during the socialization process.   I sure know I have. Here are 10 common puppy socialization mistakes you don’t want to make.

To learn more about puppy socialization and training read:

• Puppy Socials- What to expect
• Crate Training Made Easy
• How to Stop Your Puppy’s Destructive Chewing
• 5 Safe and Easy Ways to Socialize your Puppy
• Puppy Socialization Mistakes