Guide to Training & Socializing Your Puppy
effective tips from a puppy expert
So you just brought home your first puppy. Congratulations! Or maybe this is actually your first puppy in a couple decades. You know training and socialization protocols have evolved. With millions of puppy training videos and articles online, it can be hard to know who to listen to, what exercises to follow, and what the timeline for all of this is. Bringing home a puppy is a full-time job and now you have to decipher an overwhelming amount of information online just to figure out how to raise this puppy to be the most well-adjusted adult dog they can possibly be. If this sounds like something you’re experiencing, I understand. Through working with a multitude of puppy guardians, I’ve heard and felt your stress when it comes to knowing what you should be doing. I like to keep things simple and to the point. Raising a puppy is nuanced but it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. With my Puppy Training Guide and the tips below, you’ll be starting off on the right paw.
Why should you start socializing and training your puppy at a young age?
Your Puppy’s Socialization Window Lasts from 3-14 Weeks of Age
Did you know that puppies have a finite socialization period that starts at 3 weeks of age and ends somewhere around 14 weeks of age? During this time your puppy is the most impressionable that they will ever be, and they’re the most open novelty. As dogs age, many naturally become suspicious of novelty over time. It’s crucial for us to take advantage of this sensitive window in their development.
Puppies start learning at the rate of an adult dog at just 8 weeks of age. It’s true that our puppies are always learning. If you think about that too much it can start to be stressful. The best way I have learned to cope with that information is by making positivity a way of life and a whole lot of management to prevent problem behavior.
I like to think of the socialization window as a time when you can get more bang for your buck in terms of positive exposure. A few positive exposures can last a lifetime but it is a double edged sword in that negative experiences can also last a lifetime. Proceed with preparation.
You will need to get started before your puppy is fully vaccinated. Please refer to the AVSAB’s Position Statement on Puppy Socialization HERE for more information. Keep in mind, plenty can be done from the safety of your home, car, or a carrier.
Socialization Isn’t JUST ABOUT Playing With Other Dogs
Often when I ask a puppy guardian about their puppy’s socialization history, I will hear something along the lines of “we have other dogs at home, so she’s fine” or “she loves my children, so she doesn’t need to interact with any other kids” or the dreaded “she lets me do anything I want to her”. While all of these statements indicate steps in the right direction, they will not meet your puppy’s socialization needs.
The term socialization refers to the concept of familiarizing your puppy with the human domestic environment through intentional and positive exposure. This includes different types of people, strangers coming into the home, watching the world together, exposure to noises, moving objects, different surfaces, and more! See our Puppy Socialization Checklist for a jumping off point.
want to learn more about puppy training?
Our Puppy Training Guide includes a shopping list, recommended schedule, body language information, training basics and more!
How do you train and socialize a young puppy?
Proceed with Preparation
Review the Puppy Socialization Checklist download. Print it off and choose one or two items from each part of the checklist. Make it your goal to positively expose your puppy to those items or concepts this week. If you get through the whole list, repeat. Though the socialization window is believed to end around 14 weeks of age, your puppy is still very impressionable beyond 14 weeks of age and well into adolescence. Positive exposure shouldn’t stop at 14 weeks of age. With older puppies, they may need more time and space when introduced to something new.
Be proactive. In order to make the experiences positive, plan ahead by preparing a few types of treats. Test them out to make sure your puppy likes them. Aim for small and chewy types of treats; they should be easy for your puppy to eat quickly. If leaving the house, I also recommend bringing a chew toy, your puppy’s favorite blanket, and a toy or two. My “puppy-go-bag” typically has all of these items in it at all times, on top of a travel water bowl and poop bags.
Be intentional. Make a plan. If you want to work on handling exercises, wait until your puppy is relatively relaxed, prepare your treats, then gently touch your puppy for 1 second, reward, and repeat until you’ve been able to touch them in a few different places. Always monitor your puppy for stress signals. If your puppy is uncomfortable and displaying worrisome or fearful behaviors and body language, you need to slow down, decrease the intensity of the exercise, or stop completely to try again another day. Signs your puppy may be worried include: shaking, trying to run away, hiding, snappy yawns with big lip licks, panting even though they’re not warm or haven’t been physically active, holding a paw up, whale eye (you can see the whites of their eye, usually head is turned away from you), mouthing and biting can be due to discomfort, tucked tail, ears pinned back to their head or airplane ears (ears splayed out horizontally from their head).
Be consistent. Aim for a socialization focused activity every day. Your puppy’s socialization window will disappear before you know it. We also recommend enrolling your puppy in a quality puppy class with a certified trainer, regular puppy socials, and encourage you to consider having a dog walker or dog savvy friends come visit your puppy on a regular basis.
HOW CAN DOG FLOWER HELP?
Puppy socialization and training doesn’t have to be hard, and if you’re finding that you need support, we are here to help. Our puppy socials, group classes, and private training can provide assistance with any and everything puppy socialization and training related. Not sure where to start? Scheduled a FREE 10-minute Discovery Call with Meaghan below.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR, DOG TRAINER Meaghan SUMMERBELL
Meaghan Summerbell (KPA CTP, CSAP-BC, CTDI) is a multi-certified professional dog trainer serving East Portland, Gresham, Troutdale and Happy Valley, Oregon. Meaghan is dedicated to helping people understand the inner workings of canine behavior on a deeper, more meaningful level so you can become your dog’s best friend, too.
This is an AI free blog post. All blog posts are written and published by Meaghan.
Keywords: puppy training, puppy socialization, Portland puppy training, Gresham puppy training, Happy Valley puppy training, Troutdale puppy training, puppy socials, puppy social hour, puppy playtime
