Happy Oodles

Puppy Socialization

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Puppy Socialization Mistakes

Small black and white puppy sitting on wide window sill alone. Illustrates Puppy socialization Mistakes

The benefits of a well socialized dog are endless. Puppies that are properly socialized are easier to train, listen better and a joy to be around.  They typically do not have the fear or aggression issues that are associated with dogs that have not been properly socialized. This in turn makes it easier for us to share our lives with them.  For these reasons we want to make sure we socialize our dogs properly.  But sometimes, even though we have the best of intentions, we still make mistakes during the socialization process.   I sure know I have. Here are 10 common puppy socialization mistakes people make.

Picture of small black and white puppy sitting on window sill with the words 10 Puppy Socialization Mistakes - You don't want to make.

10 Common Puppy Socialization Mistakes:

1. You stop socializing your puppy

Socializing your dog is a lifetime event. Just because they are no longer in the critical early socialization period, doesn’t mean you should stop socializing them.   We made this mistake with our current dog.  

Gray and white sitting puppy with wet hair looking sad.

From the time we brought her home at 9 weeks old until about 4 months old we made sure to bring her on car rides that did not include the veterinarian. We took her to fun places like the park or to our kid’s baseball games.  But over time car rides stopped being a focus since she liked them. What we didn’t realize was that, once the weather turned cold, the only time she went for a ride was to go to the vet or groomers.  Neither one is a favorite place for her.  Once the weather turned warm again we tried to take her on trips.  However she started to cry and wine the entire time she was in the car.  

It took a lot of car rides and patience, but we were able to retrain her so she did not associate the car with something that was unpleasant.  As a poodle mix she will still visit the groomer, but we make sure it is not the only reason she goes for a ride.

Not sure how to get started with socializing your puppy? Check out our post on Puppy Socialization Basics.

2.  Changing the tone of your voice

This is another one of the puppy socialization mistakes I am guilty of making. Speaking in a higher pitched calming voice worked for my kids so why not my fur babies?  That high pitched cooing voice you use with the kids tells your puppy that something has changed. With dogs, change is not good. It tells them they need to be on guard as they try to figure out why you are acting different.  Instead try to remain as clam as possible and speak to them in your normal voice. The goal of introducing your pup to new experiences is to show them that “new” is no big deal.  

In addition to speaking in your normal voice, you need to relax your body. If you become tense during an encounter with something new, your pup will follow your lead.  

In a recent study Swedish researchers compared the stress levels in dogs to their owners. They did this by measuring levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the hairs of both the dogs and their owners.  It was found that there was a strong correlation between the dogs long-term stress levels and their owners.

3. Bring your puppy to a dog park

Bring your puppy to a dog park. 3rd mistake in Puppy Socialization Mistakes. Picture of a white puppy standing in grass looking back.

Dog parks are not a place you want to bring your puppy to socialize them. There are many dangers lurking in a dog park that you cannot see. Since young puppies are not fully vaccinated they are vulnerable to picking up diseases in the park.   Canine diseases can be transmitted either through direct contact with a sick dog, through animal feces or picked up through the soil and water bowls.  Did you know that Canine Parvovirus can live in contaminated soil for a very long time?  Even if there is no other dogs at the dog park you still run the risk of your dog getting sick.

To learn more about the risk of disease at dog parks, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association’s page on Dogs’ Social Lives and Disease Risks – Tips for Canine and Human Safety

In addition to the risk of disease, you risk your puppy getting hurt by another dog. Larger dogs may look at a small puppy running around and view them as prey to chase.  Even dogs with the best recall might ignore their owners when the hunt is on.

In dog parks you often cannot control the situation.  We took our adult dog to the dog park once (only once).  It was a very bad experience. Once she was loose in the park, she was mobbed by a pack of dogs.  They were mostly friendly, but being surrounded by dogs was overwhelming for her.  Plus there were a few dogs that wanted to show their dominant by nipping at her. The other dog owners did nothing to help. Remember when you socialize your puppy you want to make sure all the experiences are positive.

For more information about the dangers of Dog Parks read; Dog Park Concerns and Tips on How to Protect your Dog

4. Taking your puppy to any kind of pet store

Pet Stores have some of the same issues as dog parks.  You won’t know if the other dogs there are aggressive or if they might be sick. Although you shouldn’t have to worry about loose dogs roaming the store, it is still possible for an aggressive dog to lunge at your puppy as they walk by.  It is also not uncommon to see a store employee cleaning up after an accident.  Remember, canine diseases can last a long time and are hard to kill.

If must bring your puppy to a pet supply store you should carry him at all times.  I recommend never taking your puppy into a place that sells puppies.  To understand why read the Humane Society of US investigation of puppy stores: HSUS undercover investigation reveals more sick, dead puppies at Petland stores

5. Taking your puppy from their mother too soon

Taking your puppy form thier mother too soon. 5th mistake in Puppy Socialization mistakes. Picture of cream and brown very young puppies in pen.

Some breeders will allow you to take your puppy home at 6 weeks old. This is generally not recommended.  According to the AKC article What Is the Best Age to Send Puppies to Their New Homes?, “most veterinarians and breeders agree that 7-to-8 weeks of age is the prime time for a puppy to meet its new family.”  Prior to this age your puppy’s first teachers should be their mother and littermates. It’s at this time that puppies are learning to be dogs. Through play they learn what is acceptable and what is not. This includes learning impulse control and bite inhibition through feedback from their mother and siblings.

6. Overwhelm your puppy

One of the common puppy socialization mistakes is trying to do too much too fast.  I know, because I have been there. We received a puppy socialization checklist at our first puppy kindergarten class. It must have had 50 or more recommendations of things we should expose our puppy to.  Just looking at the list was overwhelming to me. It’s natural to want to combine a few items on the list. However, it’s more important that each experience is a positive one, even if you don’t accomplish everything on the list.

In my post 5 Safe and Easy Ways to Socialize your Puppy, I mentioned how we invited our neighbors over to meet our puppy. When doing this we always made sure it was only one or two people at a time.  If we invited the whole neighborhood over to meet her at the same time, she would most likely become over stimulated by all the attention.  You need to make sure every encounter is a safe and comfortable one. Also it is very important that your puppy has a way to retreat if they are feeling overwhelmed.  

7. Socialize them outside of the house too soon.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends that you wait until at least 7 days after your puppy has received their first round of vaccines and a first deworming before you begin to socialize them outside of your home.  The first round of vaccines and deworming generally happen at around 7-8 weeks of age.  However these are general guidelines. You should ask your veterinarian when it is safe for your puppy to go to public places.   Puppies that are taken out in public before their first round of vaccines run the risk of picking up a disease.   Puppies should then be kept up to date on all vaccines going forward.

8. Start the socialization process too late

Older cream colored puppy with long hair outside.

Because of health concerns some people wait until their puppy is fully vaccinated at 4 months old.  If you wait until your puppy is fully vaccinated you will miss out on the critical socialization period. This is the period where sociability outweighs fear. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that “the most important time for puppy socialization is the first three months of life.”

9. Restraining your pup while introducing something new

This is one of the puppy socialization mistakes I see most often.  The typical scenario is when two puppies meet for the first time.  The puppies are pulling on their leash to get closer and the owners are pulling them in the opposite direction.  While this might make sense to do with your older dog, restraining your puppy while they are investigating someone or something new will signal to them that this is something to be afraid of.

Try not to restrain your puppy when you introduce them to something or someone. As long as you know the situation is safe, give your pup a chance to explore without restraining them.

10. You wing it

Black and white marbled puppy with head cocked to the left. Puppy is standing on a white distressed bench.

Every time you introduce your puppy to something or someone new you should be in control of the situation.  Do your research.  You should know what to expect ahead of time.  Some things you should think about when deciding to take your puppy out to socialize them are:  

  • How might the puppy react?
  • Will there be a lot of people there?
  • Will it be overwhelming for your puppy?
  • It is safe?
  • Will there be other dogs?
  • Is there a safe place for them to retreat?

Taking your puppy out somewhere and hoping for the best is not the right way to safely socialize your pup.

These 10 mistakes are not the only puppy socialization mistakes one can make, but it is a good start.   For more information on puppy socialization check out these posts:

For more information on puppy socialization and training check out these posts:

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5 Safe and Easy Ways to Socialize your Puppy

You may have heard that if you socialize your puppy early, it will lead to a happy, confident and well behaved dog.  The reason for this is the more positive experiences your young pup has with the world around them, the more confident they will be when they grow up.

Unfortunately for you and your pup, the timeframe that they are open to new experiences is short.  It is believed that during the first three months, a puppy’s sociability outweighs their fears. After that puppies start to become fearful the unknown. 

For this reason The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends that you begin to socialize your puppy starting after they have received their first round of vaccines, at around 7 to 8 weeks old but in a safe environment.

Tip: If you are not sure what Puppy Socialization is start with the Puppy Socialization Basics

But if you have ever looked at one of those puppy socialization checklists, the task to socialize your puppy can feel overwhelming.  To help you, I have composed 5 safe and easy ways to socialize your puppy.

1. Join a Puppy Social

Puppy socials are a great, easy and safe way to expose your young puppy to other dogs, people and experiences.   Many dog trainers will offer puppy socials for their clients.  Unlike puppy kindergarten or dog training, puppy socials do not provide training.  The main purpose of a puppy social is to give puppy owners a safe place to bring their puppy to play with other puppies.  

In addition to providing a safe place for puppies to meet and play, a good puppy social should offer other experiences like obstacles to play on, toys to share and different surfaces to explore.  

The puppy social should have enough trained staff to watch over the puppies and handle any issue that may arise. Puppies should be separated based on size and energy level to avoid injury.

Also there should be a requirement to provide proof of up-to-date vaccines and deworming before attending a social.   If you find a puppy social that does not have this requirement, look elsewhere.

What to Look For in a Puppy Social:

  • Requires proof of up-to-date vaccines and deworming
  • Located in a clean environment, with safety features and an easy to clean floor
  • Separates puppies by size and energy levels
  • Has adequate trained supervision

TIP: You can learn more about Puppy Socials at Puppy Socialization Classes- What to expect

2. Setup a Puppy Play Date

5 Safe and Easy Ways to Socialize your Puppy

If you are unable to go to a puppy social you can create your own.  Invite a couple of friends and their pups for an hour of free play in a fenced in backyard. All puppies should be healthy and up-to-date with their vaccines and deworming.

Tip: Do not meet at a dog park. Dog parks hold many dangers for young puppies. To learn more read: Dog Park Concerns and Tips on How to Protect your Dog

Make sure all the dogs have a good temperament and are none aggressive.  Larger dogs may view smaller puppies as prey so you should try to invite the same sized dogs to the party. Also try to keep the dog’s ages close.  An older dog probably would not like a bunch of young puppies running around and jumping on them.

If you don’t have access to a safe, fenced-in backyard, an unfinished basement can work.  Remember to take a water break and then a bathroom break halfway through the time allotted to limit the potential accidents.

All dog owners should stay for the romp to make sure their pup behaves.  Any aggressive dogs should be removed from the area.

To break up the excitement and to give the puppies a chance to rest you can sprinkle plain cheerios around for them to find.   This should not be done around any dog that has shown food aggression.

3. Go For a Ride

5 Safe and Easy Ways to Socialize your Puppy

Whether it is a trip to the vet or a family vacation unless you live in a city (and never leave) most dogs will need to get used to going for a car ride.  Despite the many pictures of happy dogs with their heads sticking out the window of a moving car, enjoying a car ride is a learned reaction. It is also one of the safer socialization activities you can expose your young pup too, as long as you don’t take them out of the car.    

Because many puppies can experience motion sickness, it is best to start taking short trips and built up to longer ones.   It is also important to make the trips fun.  If the only time they go for a ride is to go to the vet to be poked they will associate a ride in the car with pain and discomfort.

To make the trip more enjoyable have someone sit with the puppy so they don’t feel isolated.  The puppy should be secured in the middle seat with either a car restraint or a carrier for their safety and yours.  Give your puppy a favorite toy that they only get on car rides to take their mind off of the motion of the car. You can also play soothing music.  But don’t coddle your puppy.   A trip in the car should be viewed as no big deal.   

A Word on Motion Sickness

As I mentioned before puppies are prone to motion sickness, but according to the VCA “Many puppies will “outgrow” motion sickness by the time they’re about 1 year old.” To reduce the risk of motion sickness you should:

  • Wait several hours after eating before going for a ride.
  • Secure the puppy in the middle of the car where they can look forward
  • Take short trips and gradually move up to longer ones
  • Keep the car cool
  • Open the windows to reduce the pressure on your pup’s ears

When you are able to move up to longer rides remember to bring water and stop often if they are prone to get sick.

4. Have a Meet and Greet

Having a meet and greet in your home is a great way for your puppy to meet a variety of people in a safe environment. Setting up times for people to come over and meet your new puppy is an easy way to socialize them.

When we brought Bella home it didn’t take long for the neighborhood kids to start coming over to meet our new puppy.   We limited their visits to one at a time and no longer than a ½ hour at a time.  This allowed Bella to meet children of all different ages, looks and personalities in the comfort of her own home.  

We also invited our adult neighbors and our extended family members to come visit our newest addition.  When people came over we asked that they remove their shoes and wash their hands before going near her to reduce the risk of Bella picking up a disease from the outside. As with the kids, we only allowed one or two adults to meet her at a time. Too many people can overwhelm a young puppy.

In addition to the in house meet and greets we would carry Bella out with us each morning to wait for the school bus to come.  The kids loved the opportunity to pet her soft fur and get puppy kisses. 

5. Puppy Kindergarten

Puppy kindergarten is more than just a dog training class for puppies.  A good puppy kindergarten will provide time for puppies to mingle and play together. Plus experienced trainers will further your pup’s socialization by introducing them to new experiences through role playing.

For more information on Puppy Socialization:

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Puppy Socialization Basics

Why Puppy Socialization is So Important

If you have or are planning to get a new puppy, you may have heard that the key to a happy, well-adjusted, well behaved dog is to socialize them properly as a puppy.  The reason for this is that puppy socialization teaches your puppy about the world around them. Through interactions with other living and non living things, they will learn what is safe and what is not. It also teaches your puppy how they should react to commmon situations. A puppy that has not been socialized properly may grow up to be fearful of the unknown

To give you an idea of just how important it is to socialize your puppy the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior issued a position statement on the subject.  In AVSAB’s Position Statement on Puppy Socialization, it states that “it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated”.  They go on to say that “early and adequate socialization and programs of positive training can go a long way to preventing behavior problems”. Studies have shown that behavior problems are caused by poor socialization and is the number 1 reason dogs are surrendered to shelters. It is also the primary cause of death for dogs under three years of age. 

Having had a dog that was not properly socialized as a puppy, I can attest that it does cause you and your dog hardships for their entire life.

Our Story

After having a rescue dog with many behavioral and medical issues we decided that our next dog would not be a rescue. This time we were going to look for a reputable local breeder.    But we really didn’t know what breed of dog we wanted, so we decided to look at puppy stores just to see what was available.  This of course, was a mistake.

Molly

Molly was the cutest, little tail wagging puppy I had ever seen.   She was a 2 month old friendly English Springer Spaniel that just wanted to play.  When we took her to a room to play with her she was so excited that she was literally sliding up the walls. I told my husband that she was too hyper for us (actually I told him the dog was crazy) and that we shouldn’t buy from a puppy store, but he was falling for her.   I convinced him not buy her and left the store.

But he couldn’t stop thinking about her and two months later he stopped by the store to find that she was still there.  After hearing that she was going to be put down, we decided to buy her at a steeply discount price.  

At this point Molly had been living in the store for two months.  Since she was a puppy mill puppy, I assume she was born in a crate and lived in one until she was shipped thousands of miles to the store.  

We knew puppy mill puppies could have medical issues, what we didn’t know at the time was that living in that environment for so long, severely affected her social skills. 

Social Skills

Soon after bringing her home we started noticing Molly’s lack of social awareness.  Since she was four months old and fully vaccinated we were free to take her out for walks to the local park. We had a friend that lived near the park that we would visit on the way.   There we would meet up with other dog parents to chat and our pups were free to mingle. But Molly always seemed to annoy the other dogs.   She didn’t notice the social clues they were giving her.  One day, one of the adult dogs snapped at her.  She took notice at the time, but continued to be clueless around other dogs. This lead to her being bit in the park by an older dog who did not appreciate her high energy.  

When she turned 6 months we sent her to doggy day care a few times a week to socialize with other dogs, but just like at the park she didn’t seem to be able to get along with the other dogs.  Again she was bitten. By the time she was 1 year old she started to go on the offense. When she met another dog, she would bite them before they bit her.  This was a problem. 

Afraid of People

Molly was also afraid of people.   She was ok with adults, though she would urinate whenever an adult would pay attention to her, sometimes on their feet.  Children were a different story.  She was afraid to let them near her.  If they got too close she would let out a warning bark.   We were afraid that one day she would bite a child, like she did with dogs.

Over time she learned to trust people and we learned she could not be near other dogs.   Although we were able to correct some of her issues through training, she never completely overcame her fears. I do believe all her issues arose from not being socialized at that critical stage in her life.

What is Puppy Socialization? 

What is Puppy Socialization?

Socializing your puppy means introducing them to as many new people, places, sounds, and experiences that can be safely achieved without causing overstimulation. The optimal time to socialize your puppy is before they are 3 months old. Sometime between the ages of 3 and 4 months your puppy will naturally start to become weary of the unknown.  Now that doesn’t mean you should stop socializing them after 4 months. It just means they are the most open to new things before 3 months old.

But exposing your pup to new experiences is not enough. You want to teach them how to react when encountering something new.  To do this you must be calm when exposing them to new situations.  You can also use distraction as a way to keep your pup calm. Giving them their favorite treat can turn a frightening experience into a pleasant one.

In a recent study Swedish researchers compared the stress levels in dogs to their owners by measuring levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their hair.  It was found that there was a strong correlation between the dogs long-term stress levels and their owners.

When to Start Socializing

Puppies start the socialization process when they are still with their litter.  They follow clues from their mother regarding the rules of the house and they learn about proper play through interactions with their littermates.   But when you bring your puppy home, you become their primary teacher.

Socialization can begin inside your house as soon as you bring them home.  Introduce them to the other members of your family, to where they will sleep and to their new food bowls.  If you plan to crate train them, you should introduce them to the crate.

For simple steps to get you started on crate training read: Crate Training Made Easy

According to the AVSAB position you can start to socialize them in safe places outside of your home once your puppy has received their first set of vaccinations and deworming at around 7 to 8 weeks old.

How to Socialize Your Puppy  

The socialization process can be broken down into main three categories:

Handling

Handling means getting your pup used to being touched, either by you, family members, the groomer, the veterinarian or other people.  It can be as simple as having new people pet them or a trip to the veterinarian.

When working on handling your pup, think about all the things that might be done to your pup as they grow up. Things like grabbing their ears, looking in their ears, holding their paws, touching their nose, rubbing their tummy and holding them in your lap.

Interactions

Interactions are meeting new people, dogs, or other animals.   Make sure you introduce your pup to a wide range of people and animals.  

Puppy Socials are a great way to introduce your pup to new people and puppies in a safe place.   Most puppy socials are run by professional trainers who require proof that the puppies are up-to-date with their vaccinations and deworming.   Not only will your pup get to meet and play with other puppies, you get the benefit of a trainer who can help you understand what normal play is versus aggressive play.  To learn more about Puppy Socials read Puppy Socialization Classes- What to expect

Experiences

Puppy Socialization Basics

Experiences can be anything your dog may encounter in their life.  Think about how you plan to include your dog in your activities, than slowly introduce them to it. Start out with a less stressful experience like getting used to wearing a collar and walking on a leash. When they have mastered that you can move on to a more stressful situation like walking on the sidewalk on a busy street. 

A good way to provide experiences in a safe environment is to go to Puppy Kindergarten. In Puppy Kindergarten, your pup will be exposed to different dog owners and their pups. In addition to new people and dogs they will learn basic commands like sit, stay and come. They will also be exposed to things like being handled by a trainer or playing on different surfaces. However, if you find a puppy kindergarten or puppy social that does not require proof of vaccines and deworming look for another place.

Here are 5 Safe and Easy Ways to Socialize your Puppy before they are four months old.

Don’t Overdo It

Remember not to overdo it. Puppy socialization should take place over time with time in between for your puppy to rest and feel safe.  Too much too soon can cause your puppy to become over stimulated and stressed. The main purpose of puppy socialization is to help your pup feel confident with the world around them.  A confident, at ease dog will be easy to control and a pleasure to be with.

Sometimes, even though we have the best of intentions, we still make mistakes during the socialization process.   I sure know I have. Here are 10 common puppy socialization mistakes you don’t want to make.

To learn more about puppy socialization and training read:

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Puppy Socials- What to Expect

Puppy Socialization Classes

Why go to puppy socials? Early puppy socialization is a important part of puppy training.  The first three months is a critical time in your puppy’s life. This is the time that puppies are open to new experiences.  After this time period your puppy will begin to develop fears of the unknown.  Therefore you must expose your puppy to as many new experiences as possible. 

But it is essential that you do not expose your young puppy to germs that can be harmful to them. Especially before they are fully vaccinated. This makes the task of exposing your puppy to all the sights and sounds of everyday life including interacting with other dogs difficult.  You need to find a safe place to introduce your pup to other dogs where all dogs are vaccinated and are known. 

To fill this need many dog trainers are now offering puppy socials.   Puppy socials are a safe supervised place where puppies under 5 months old can run and play with other puppies.

What to look for in a Puppy Social

To make sure the puppy social is a fun and safe place for all puppies, the socials should have the following features:

  • Limit the age of the puppies
  • Require proof of up-to-date vaccines and deworming before allowing puppies to participate. 
  • There should be multiple experienced trainers present to help with any issues that may arise.
  • They should control the number of dogs at the social
  • A well run puppy social will divide the dogs by size and temperament.  

My Dog’s Got Class – Puppy Social

We chose the My Dog’s Got Class Dog Training – Puppy Social for our 13 week old puppy Bella because of the great reviews, the convenient location and the required proof of age appropriate vaccines.  They were also recommended by our veterinarian who resided at the same location.  The 45 minute play time included interactions with other puppies, indoor or outdoor play (when possible) and time with toys and obstacle equipment.  The trainer-supervised play sessions guaranteed appropriate and safe play opportunities for our little pup while teaching us what normal puppy behavior looked like.

Signing up

Signing up for the puppy social was easy to do.  Once we created a profile, we signed-up for the class on line.  Payment could be made either on-line or at the start of the class. We had also started taking Bella to the My Dog’s Got Class Puppy Kindergarten class the day before the social, so although she was new to the puppy social she was familiar with the location and some of the participants.  

Room set up

When we first walked through the main door we were stopped in a small foyer with low wooden gates.  We were instructed to unleash Bella and then open the gates to let her into the main area. This safety feature was there to prevent other dogs from rushing to her, possibly overwhelming her, while we were trying to take her leash off.   

Once inside,the large room was divided between large and small breed puppies. Since there were twice as many small breed puppies they had twice the room to run around.  Both sides of the room had different tactile objects like tunnels and Fitpaws balance equipment to run around, jump on and play with.   While the puppy owners were asked to sit off to the side and not interfere with the puppies, the trainers that were stationed on both sides kept watch making sure the dogs played in a safe, polite manner.

New friends

Puppy Socialization - new friends

For Bella this was the first time since we brought her home at 9 weeks old that she had a chance to play with other dogs.  It was clear that she did not know how to play properly with other dogs.  She was more aggressive.  Alhough we were concerned by her behavior the trainer assured us she would settle down after a while once she found her place.  

At one point she was playing too rough with a Bernice Mountain puppy which was much larger than her, but very passive, and the tables were turned. Bella became the one running away and scared, but it taught her a valuable lesson.  If you want someone to play nicely with you, you need to play nice too.  It also gave everyone a chuckle when the Bernice gently sat on Bella, but it was a clear message that he was tired of her poor behavior. After that she calmed down.

Break time

After about 20 minutes of running around the dogs were given water and then it was time to bring them outside for a potty break.  Just outside the entrance was a fenced in yard for the dogs to use. There are also waste bags to clean up after your dog.  Once the puppies were done with their business they went back inside to run and play some more.

Cheerio time

From time to time the trainers would throw out cheerios for the puppies. This was done to encourage breaks in the activity, especially when some to the puppies started to get too excited.  My daughter (age 8) and a couple of other young girls were asked to help toss the cheerios to the puppies as a way to familiarized the puppies to younger children. For the puppies it associates getting good things with young kids. My daughter was thrilled to be asked. 

End of Puppy Socialization Classes

During the second half of play time Bella was calmer and tired.  She became less interested in the other dogs and more interested in the tennis balls and cheerios. You can see her here hoarding tennis balls. We think it was a great experience for her.  It allowed her to play in a safe environment with other dogs and ensured that she has a positive view when meeting new dogs in the future.   

What to look for in a Puppy Social

  • Required proof of age appropriate vaccines before allowing dogs to participate.
  • Supervision – Make sure there is adequate knowledgeable supervision
  • Required age limits –Dogs should be close in age for safety.
  • Adequate floor space in relation to the group size
  • Look for a social that limits the number of participants
  • Puppies should be divided by size and temperament

For more Puppy Training