How to Socialize Puppies

To socialize a puppy is not hard to do. It is done by allowing other people and animals to be around the puppy. This is the most important step when training a puppy. A puppy that is not socialized will more than likely have issues with other animals and new people as it ages. Socialization starts at birth and should not be stopped until the dog is well adjusted. Read on to learn how to socialize puppies.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Love
• Leash
• Other people
• Other animals

1. Understand that as soon as a puppy is born, they require nurturing and socialization. If the litter was only one puppy, the puppy will need to be socialized with the mother and other dogs as well as people as soon as it is ready. When there are more than one puppy in the litter, they are bonding and socializing while they grow.

2. The puppy needs to be socialized with people as soon as it is a week old. This means that the puppy should be petted and gently talked too. This is the first step in socializing the puppy with people. This will go on every day until the puppy is adopted or starts to have a mind of their own.

3. Know socializing with other animals can start at birth with the other litter mates, but at four to five weeks old, the puppies are ready to socialize with other dogs and animals in general. Make sure that the other animals are accepting of other animals to prevent attacks or harm to the puppy.

4. Socializing the puppy will continue through the first year. It is important that the puppy meets new people and new animals to stay socialized. If socializations is stopped to soon, the puppy will forget.

5. Enroll the puppy is a puppy training class to help socialize with other dogs. This is especially true if the puppy was the only one in the litter or was taken away from the litter mates and the mother too soon. Make sure to do socialization when the puppy is on a leash and loose as much as possible. A dog on a leash and a loose dog socialize differently.

Tips & Warnings

• Never take a puppy from its mother before six to eight weeks.
• Never keep puppies secluded from people or other dogs while they are young.
• A dog that is only socialized on a leash or only when it is loose may have issues when meeting people and other animals in different circumstances. Always work both ways into socialization.