Tips for Making the Most out of Your Puppy’s Socialisation Period

If you have a new puppy then you will understand how important it is for you to socialise them properly. You also need to make sure that you do everything you can to try and give them the best experience possible when meeting other dogs. If you want to find out more just read on.

Things not to Do

Sure, you do want to take your puppy out and make sure that they meet lots of new people and dogs. This is great, but if your puppy is reluctant to meet new dogs then you may not be giving them a chance to explore in their own time. You have to make sure that every experience is a positive one, and if your puppy is not having a good time because they are not ready to meet a much bigger dog, then this indicates that it is not the right socialisation encounter. Remember that some dogs have already had a bad experience meeting other dogs, and some of them might have gone on to develop phobias. Read more about here.

Setting your Dog up to Fail

Another way that people get dog socialisation wrong is that they assume their dog should want to meet every dog out there, and that this is the goal for the socialisation. This is not realistic at all, and it will set your dog up to fail. It’s also one of the reasons why canine encounters go wrong. A socialised dog is one that has other dog friends that they love playing with, but most of the time, they are actually able to be around other dogs in a much calmer and more relaxed manner.

How To Socialise your Dog

Things not to Do

You have to be clear on what you are trying to achieve, and you also need to make sure that you are teaching your dog that life is fun, and also safe. If they think that anything is scary or somewhat frightening, then this is not socialising. In fact, you may be teaching them the complete opposite. It’s also important that you make a list of all of the things that your new life entails. You need to give your puppy the chance to see or experience things in a new and safe way. The ultimate aim of puppy socialisation is for you to try and show your puppy that other dogs are always going to bring about a positive experience that is safe and fun. You can do this by introducing them in a non-threatening way. You should never let your puppy become overwhelmed or frightened.

Always give your puppy an escape and introduce your dog in ways that they feel comfortable with. Make sure that your dog is friendly and also make sure that you do everything you can to try and make sure that they are happy as much as possible. If you follow this guide, then there is no reason at all why you shouldn’t be able to come out on top. If you need some help socialising your dog then a doggy training class could be an option. When you do take your dog to a training class, you will soon find that they are able to meet other dogs in a controlled manner and they can also have the best time. You may also benefit because your dog trainer can help you with your clicker training as well and this can be very beneficial so keep that in mind if you can. Of course, choosing a reputable trainer is very important.