As mans best friend, we want our beloved hound to be well behaved in the mixed social situations it finds itself. This education needs to commence whilst the bitch is young. We want the pooch not to be scared or belligerent towards persons or other animals. Pooch socialisation is a crucial part of dog care.
Studies at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine showed that the first 3 months are vital, and the easiest for socialisation. For many puppies this time is tackled by the dog breeder. After that initial twelve weeks it is still important, but takes more energy and effort. This is also the experience of professional dog sitters who are repeatedly asked for tips.
Dogs are so similar to us humans, if the first time is painful, we will stay away from or be nervous at similar occasions, soone step at a time. Encourage force the puppy. Take no risks. Yound pups rapidly tire and need to rest often, so short and often is a rule to follow.
So what approach should I take?
• Invite friends and family, small, grand, varied looking, different sexes. Be careful and fully monitor experiences with other children.
• Start him on a collar and then a leash. For short periods just leave the collar on him, later attach the leash and let him wander around with it, then you can take him for a walk around the house. Carefully choose a lightweight buckle collar with a puppy.
• Visit your acquaintances and families in their houses.
• Try and meet different dogs, particularly other friendly, vigorous and vaccinated dogs. Be careful until the puppy is fully vaccinated, meeting hounds of unknown history.
• If you know anyone with bitch friendly cats, organise a visit?
• Meet other animals, do you have a local farm near you? Difficult in towns, but if you go away for holidays.
• Life in a car is part of life. So take bitch out for as many convenient short drives in the automobile. Park up and let doggie observe the world pass by, in the security of the car. This will introduce him to noisy. Introduce him to others such as drills.
• Lug or walk him to places where there is local bustle such as the mall and open spaces. Find a restaurant or coffee house where you can sit outside with your pooch and observe the world. Loads of people will introduce themselves to him.
• Keep him close to activities in the house, paying attention to safety, vacuuming, preparing food and gardening.
• Puppy grooming, quality time for the two of you, develop the routine of brushing, bathing and inspection.
• Careful with training the pup on stairs, if you are a typical town flat owner, this may be problematic.
Dog socialisation, do not procrastinate and do something today and have a great sociable dog.
