Why to Socialise Your Dog
The goal of socialisation is to gradually accustom your puppy to a variety of sights, noises, and smells in a healthy way. A dog’s first year of life experiences can have a significant impact on how a puppy perceives people, other dogs, other animals, and a range of situations.
Unexperienced puppies will find many things that we take for granted to be frightening, and they are likely to develop into anxious adult dogs. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour claims that insufficient socialisation might cause behaviour issues in animals later in life. The organisation’s position statement on socialisation reads: “Behavioural issues, not infectious diseases, are the number one cause of death for dogs under three years of age.”
When to Socialise Your Dog
Socialisation should begin when your puppy is 3 weeks old. Since you can’t get a puppy until it is at least 8 weeks old a responsible breeder will already have started socialising your puppy.
The temperament of your puppy will significantly improve over time if you gently introduce them to a wide range of people, places, and circumstances. The amount of socialisation that takes place at this young age will have an impact on how confident your puppy is later in life.
How to Socialise Your Dog
Daily Walks
Taking your puppy on daily walks in public place will help them get more comfortable with new sounds, sights, and smells. It will also help your dog see a lot of people and other pets. Taking different routes will help your dog experience a variety of these.
Also make sure to help your dog meet different people form children, men, women, people in wheelchairs, a person with a beard, etc. All these experiences will help your puppy grow accustomed to people.
Make it Positive!
While introducing your puppy to new people give them a few treats and rewards. The puppy will start associating socialisation as a positive behaviour. Also make sure to be calm while introducing your puppy to new people. Dogs can sense your emotions and may become nervous if your yourself are nervous.
Help it Meet Other Pets
Once your puppy is accustomed to people you can help it meet other pets. Take them to a pet store or to your friend’s house who also has a dog. Once your puppy if comfortable other dogs you could also take them to dog parks.
Puppy Camp
Your puppy can attend puppy classes or puppy school. Not only do these sessions help them start to grasp simple commands but also meet other dogs. The meetings will be mediated by knowledgeable trainers to ensure the safety and happiness of both people and dogs throughout.
Exercise Caution
While introducing your dog to another dog make sure to look at the body language of both your dog and the other dog. If the other dog seems aggressive or barks too much you dog may become scared of dogs in general. If your dog seems intimidated or is pulling away don’t force it to socialise. Check out the 10 dog care accessories every dog owner should know.
