Puppy Socialization

Socialization is something that is often preached about when you have a dog. In fact, it is something I cover with all of my clients regardless of why I am there. This is because of how important it really is.

Socialization is about building associations with things that the pup will come across in everyday life. The goal is to set them up so that they have positive or good associations with these things. The concept of how this is done is actually pretty simple; it's just about doing it and making sure that nothing bad happens in the process. The overall idea is to make sure your pup receives things it enjoys while encountering everyday stuff. (e.g. people, places, trucks, etc.)

The first thing that you need to do is find something that your pup loves. It is easiest to use small food rewards for this. (e.g. cheese, hot dogs, real meat, etc.) The second thing you need to do is find some environments that have different things in there for your dog to come across. When searching for the right environment for this, it's important to start off with places that aren't too overwhelming. (You'll want to avoid county fairs etc.) (Check out the video below to see more about choosing the right environments.)  Read the entire article
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