What You Didn’t Know About Socializing Your Puppy

So you have a new puppy and you know that socializing your puppy can be an overwhelming and exciting task. But what does socialization mean? A quick search online will give you countless articles advising that owners should expose their pup to as many dogs, people, and children in order to foster a well-balanced and fearless dog. However, did you know that socialization should include things such as sensations, sounds, textures, and more? What about the fact that letting your dog say hello to everyone they meet might actually be detrimental to their growth?

An aspect of training that is often skipped by both experienced and first-time owners is exposing your dog to specific sounds such as alarms, horns, and fans. The sounds of the human world can be very jarring to a sheltered dog, but a puppy will be curious and quickly comfortable. How about floor textures such as wood, linoleum, carpet, grass, tile, concrete, asphalt, or gravel? Perhaps you’ve seen someone attempting to walk their dog up some stairs for the first time and the dog flattens to the ground, refusing to move. These situations might be avoided if you expose your puppy early on, but presenting something to your dog is only half the battle. So how can we ensure that it’s a positive and beneficial experience?

An important part of training is tailoring your responses to your dog’s personality. For example, if your pup seems fearful of something, you shouldn’t simply expose them and give them a treat. You may end up rewarding their fear and reinforcing the wrong behavior. Instead, turn it into a game where you reward your pup for mastering their fear. This will encourage your puppy to look to you for leadership while also helping them build trust in difficult situations.

Let’s flip the situation around. You have a fearless puppy who loves making new friends. In this case, it may actually be detrimental to let them say hi to everyone. Puppies are learning what to expect of the real world and those experiences carry into their adult lives. When you go to the grocery store, do you stop and shake every person’s hand you see? No, of course not! If we teach our dogs to greet everyone and then suddenly change the rules on them, they may become frustrated and reactive.

Try this quick trick: every other time someone wants to let their dog meet yours or pet your adorable puppy, politely decline. If you have trouble saying no, explain that your puppy is in training and most people will be very understanding! This will show your puppy a balanced view of the world – “sometimes I get to meet that new person or dog and sometimes I don’t!”

As with all things regarding our furry family members, there are many nuances to their personalities which will require a personal touch. If you’re not quite sure how to get started or you’ve encountered something you don’t know how to handle, consult a canine professional.