Socializing Your New Puppy

SOCIALIZING YOUR PUPPY

by Mareth Perry © 2010

1. Expose your puppy to a variety of surfaces for elimination, including grass, cement, potty pads, etc. Introduce a command such as “Quick! Quick!” or “Potty” during elimination. 
2. Accustom your puppy to having every part of her body handled in a gentle manner. Do this for several short periods every day. Praise her when she accepts your touch.
3. Create a schedule for feeding, naps, potty breaks, etc. Dogs thrive when things happen at predictable times. This will also make housebreaking much easier.
4. Expose your puppy to a variety of sounds as tolerated. Using sound effects CDs with the stereo volume set low is a great way to desensitize your puppy to sounds such as thunderstorms.
5. Accustom your puppy to being crated. Remember your puppy should view the crate as a safe place, not as punishment. Start slowly with just a few moments in the crate and build up to longer periods. Feeding your puppy while she's crated will help her to build positive associations.
6. Help your puppy to accept her collar and leash. Never use the collar or leash to pull or tug on your puppy. If she balks at moving, use a treat to lure her into going the direction you want her to move. 
7. Encourage your puppy to play gently. Avoid games such as tug-o-war and never allow her to bite any part of your body. Squealing like another pup would when she gets rough may be enough to discourage her from nipping. Praise her if she stops.8. Teach her to chew on appropriate items. Never allow her to play with things she won't be allowed to have as an adult. No chewing on shoes, leashes, clothing, etc. When she chews on something that she shouldn't, offer her a treat or an appropriate toy. Never pull something out of her mouth; she will view that as an invitation to play. Gently blowing in her nose will cause her to let go of forbidden items
8. Expose your puppy to walking on a variety of surfaces: tile, carpet, hardwood, concrete, sand, dirt, bricks, etc.
9. Accustom your puppy to riding in the car. Use a restraint system—either a crate or a seatbelt harness—to keep her safe.
10. Introduce your puppy to as many different people as you can. She should learn to be comfortable with people of different ages (from toddler to old age) and ethnicities, those wearing odd clothing (including hats and glasses), people with facial hair; as well as people using wheelchairs, walkers or crutches.
11. Accustom your puppy to wearing a vest. There are lightweight harnesses available at any pet store that will be a great introduction to the Service vest she will wear later.
12. Accustom your puppy to being groomed in a gentle manner.
13. Accustom your puppy to being bathed. Always use lukewarm water. A slip-proof mat in the tub will keep her from sliding around, which many dogs find frightening.
14. Build positive associations with your touch. Never physically punish your puppy.
15. Accustom your puppy to people running by, rollerblading, skateboarding and biking. Use high-value treats (like duck jerky) to refocus her attention on you.