Puppy Socialization Tips

Puppyyyyyyyyyy!

It's the most wonderful time of the year, the decade even, when your puppy finally moves in with you. Believe me, Christmas...can suck it compared to the elation, the smells, the sounds, the sights and the overall excitement of having a little furry ball running, falling, peeing all over your place.

The first couple of weeks with Bea will forever live rentfree in my heart. She was adorably clumsy, smelt so so so good and gave us this indescribable feeling of living in a cloud of love, or in a wholesome episode of a cartoon. If you want to read more about our journey with Bea, check out this corner of my blog.

Look at this tiny bundle of aawwwwww

They are so cute and need so much attention and you are so incredible overwhelmed and overstrained and overhyped that it might be missing an important point, a task you better start really early with. And I don't mean to pee your strawberries with this post, it's just a gentle and friendly reminder that the earlier you start, the better it'll go: socializing your puppy.

Dogs, yes all dogs, love learning and especially the attention they get from their humans while teaching them. And just like humans, they learn faster and with much more ease while young. Seize this opportunity and turn your clumsy bundle of aww into a clumsy bundle of aww with some mad skillz! Here are my 10 plus bonus Puppy Socialization Tips.

The list

1.Expose your puppy to Various Environments:

Introduce your puppy to different places like parks, busy streets, and friend’s houses to help them get used to various environments and sounds. Take time to let every new place sink in. Stand on a busy street. Sit on a bench in the forest. And make sure your home is ready for the puppy to zoom and release stress. Check out this list that'll surely help you!.

2. Meet Different People:

Allow your puppy to interact with a variety of people, including those of different ages, genders, and ethnicities. This helps them become comfortable with all kinds of humans. Pay attention on how your puppy reacts to kids, men with beards, sunglasses, etc. You can prevent so much with the right start.

3. Introduce to Other Dogs:

Arrange playdates with well-behaved, vaccinated dogs. This helps your puppy learn proper doggy manners and social cues. This is very important. But also just go to dog parks or places where dogs can be off leash and, providing your puppy is old enough, let the dogs settle it among themselves. It's very important to let your puppy actually learn from other dogs and also let them discover their instincts.

4. Visit the Vet and Groomer:

Make trips to the vet and groomer part of their routine, so they grow accustomed to being handled by strangers and getting used to medical and grooming procedures. But don't be frustrated if this takes time and you fail in the end. Bea has been to so many vets in various stages of her life but she still gets really nervous once she sees this vet table.

5. Positive Reinforcement:

Use treats, praise, and play to reward your puppy for calm and confident behavior in new situations. This builds a positive association with new experiences. You can't praise enough. I know dogs that have been trained solely by praise, no treats at all. It's challenging and I don't really recommend it. The point is show your dog what's cool and reinforce that instead of reprimanding them when they make a mistake (it's only a mistake in your eyes!). Check out my other lists for more, like teaching new tricks.

6. Exposure to Different Sounds:

Play recordings of various sounds, like traffic, thunder, or sirens, at a low volume initially. Gradually increase the volume as your puppy becomes more comfortable. Then go where these sounds occur naturally. And give your puppy time to take it in. Be mindful of their stress level and stop before it is too much.

7. Introduce Various Textures:

Allow your puppy to walk on different surfaces like grass, gravel, tiles, and sand. This helps them get used to different ground textures. Bea for example hated walking over grating. Of course, it's scary, potentially hurts and wtf in general. But we practiced a lot and gave her time to understand what was going on. And now she can even walk up and down those weird fire escape stairs (but pay attention, the grating can be too closely meshed so their claws might get stuck).

8. Controlled Socialization with Other Pets:

If you have other pets, introduce them to your puppy in a controlled manner. This helps your puppy learn to coexist peacefully with other animals. Bea was very young when she saw her first cat (disaster at first, now funny) and 3 1/2 years old when she got to know her first hamster (very underwhelming).

9. Basic Obedience Training:

Teach basic commands like sit, stay, and come. This not only helps with training but also builds your puppy's confidence and ability to focus. I've written a lot about this, for example check out 10 essential commands you can teach your puppy.

10. Consistent Routine:

Maintain a consistent routine for feeding, playtime, and training. Predictability helps puppies feel secure and better adapt to new experiences. It's key! Also I've complied the ultimate list that might help you with a new puppy!

Bonus

11. Time:

You might've guessed it already, it takes time for your puppy to learn, experience, evaluate and grow. And it also takes time for you to do exactly the same! So be patient and understanding with the pup and yourself. Also...don't be too hard on yourself, you will screw it up every now and then. Keep going and don't make the same mistake again.

12. LOVE:

Do everything with love. Your puppy knows you, and only you. You are literally their whole world. How do you want your pup to experience the world? Filled with love and care and understanding. And treats, of course. Your puppy loves you without condition, despite all your flaws and shortcomings and they expect nothing in return.

I'm sure I didn't miss anything

If you beg to differ, tell me in the comments! Thanks!