Looking for dog training tips to help socialize a puppy? Read on! When you first get a new puppy, the usual things pop up on your to-do list. You have to get them potty trained while simultaneously trying to get them to stop chewing your shoes to pieces. What often gets overlooked is the social aspect of puppy training. A puppy has to be introduced to the world around him and how that happens is a very important part of how he will view the world. Read on for a few dog training tips that will help you socialize a puppy.
Socialize a puppy with these dog training tips
Pretend for a moment that you live on a farm. Imagine that your puppy is raised to be completely fearless and approaches new things without concerns. A confident dog is a good thing right? In general that is true, but what if the dog is encountering a dangerous rattlesnake or a piece of machinery? Being fearless then is a dangerous thing.
So how do you find the right balance? That is socialization in a nutshell. It is teaching your dog to live safely and happily in the world around him.
The first thing you should understand when you are trying to socialize a puppy is that a healthy dose of caution is not always a bad thing. When your dog dives headlong into every situation, that is bound to end badly. The key is to expose them to situations in a controlled, safe environment and let them learn what is okay and what is potentially dangerous.
The first thing you want to do is make a list of likely things your dog is going to see and be around. For example, if you are raising a hunting dog you can reasonably expect your dog to be around guns and gunfire. If you are a dog sitter, your dog needs to get used to other animals. Every person is different and a dog should be tailored for their environment. Dogs can easily adapt to things if we expose them and be careful to watch their reactions.
When your dog appears scared, tone down the exposure. If they seem okay you might make it more strong. The key is to give them gradual exposure to new things so that they are not overwhelmed. Dogs are naturally curious and cautious once they reach a certain age, so you need to be sure to work with that. Allow a curious dog to investigate if there is no danger and praise them for a job well done.
Socialization is very important when the dog is going to be around other animals and strangers. The last thing you need is a fearful dog that is spooked by others. Slowly expose your dog to situations where you can easily control the exposure. Have a puppy date with other dogs that you can quickly and easily remove your puppy from if they are overwhelmed. Perhaps only have them meet one at a time rather than several. Either way, you will have a great time watching them learn about other animals.
Do you have any other dog training tips to help socialize a puppy? Tell us in the comments, we always love to hear from our readers!
