The goal of socialization is to get your pup accustomed to and comfortable with the world around them. This involves exposure to a variety of people, environments, and situations. Here are some additional ideas for puppy socialization:
Exposure to Different Types of People:
- Infants, toddlers, older kids/teens, adults, and elderly people
- Men and women
- People of different ethnicities/races
- Big and small people
- People wearing sunglasses, hoods, hats, backpacks, and carrying umbrellas
- People in uniforms: police, medical, firefighters
- People with canes, crutches, or in wheelchairs
Exposure to People Doing Different Activities:
- Running, throwing balls, gardening
- Doing yoga or tai chi
- Standing on chairs or ladders
- Using tools, pushing brooms, carrying bags and boxes
- Vacuuming
Exposure to Different Animals:
- Other dogs that look different from your pup
- Cats, horses, chickens, goats, and any other animal your dog may come into contact with
Exposure to Moving Objects:
- Bicycles, skateboards, running kids, kites
- Motorcycles, cars, trucks, fire engines
- Running animals
Exposure to New Environments:
- Your car, the veterinarian’s office, parks, beaches
- Shopping areas, sidewalks with cars going by
- Areas where you might walk or hike or vacation
- Other people’s houses, pet stores
Exposure to Everyday Noises:
- Blow dryers, kitchen appliances, vacuums, doorbells
- Walk-sign beeps, trucks backing up, neighbors in their yards
- Kids yelling, babies crying, wind and thunder noises, fireworks
Exposure to Different Surfaces:
- Grass, gravel, pavement, carpet, shiny floors
- Mulch, sand, wet surfaces outside, the bathtub
Exposure to Handling:
- Touching for vet visits, grooming
- Patting heads, hugging (Note: While we do not recommend hugging dogs due to their interpretation of body language, it’s likely your puppy will receive a hug from someone at some point, so it’s important they’re exposed to this)
- Invasive interactions, such as people invading their space, taking things from them, hugging them without warning, and getting into their food
Remember, don’t expose your puppy to everything at once, and always do it in a way that is not forceful or overwhelming. The goal is to create positive experiences and help your puppy grow into a confident and well-adjusted adult dog.