Puppy Training: Socialization

Puppy Training: It is important to get the socialization of your puppy right first time to produce a well-balanced dog. It should be done carefully; paying special attention to getting the puppy used to all types and ages of people, especially children.

All puppies, like babies, are born without any knowledge of the world around them and gradually through trial and error they have to learn what is safe and what is not. They have a natural instinctive fear of any new thing, until they get used to their new environment.

Trying to constantly keep your puppy safe in a protected environment is sometimes the wrong way to go about puppy training. By keeping them safe from, what you consider may harm him, you are keeping him away from events that will help to shape his future.

To prevent your puppy from becoming too fearful, they need to be acclimatized at a young age to all the situations and problems they may face later. One of the major problems facing the socialization of puppies is the type of area where you live. Each area has its own unique problem, whether it is a busy city environment or the comparative calm of the countryside. But whatever you do take the socialization issue with your dog just one step at a time

It is always a good idea to sit and think about the type of problems that may affect your puppy. Make it relevant to the area where you live and where you will walk him. Make a list and tackle each one with your puppy until he has mastered them all. What you may think your puppy will shy away from does not always happen and once you begin socializating your puppy you must continue without any breaks. Try and plan visits to different places and situations that you think will move your puppy forward.

With puppy training they need to meet all kinds of people. When confronted with a stranger watch how your puppy reacts and how he or she reacts to your young dog. Every person your puppy meets will have a different effect on its behavior. Again if you encounter certain things that your puppy does not like, you will have to spend more time with him until you solve his problem

When meeting people for the first time some have either a positive or negative affect on you. Your puppy has a greater understanding of people, even at a young age, than you will give him credit for. So do not force him to be petted by someone he obviously dislikes. Give him time to adjust.

Noise is a major stumbling block, especially dogs with highly sensitive ears. Certain types and frequencies of noises irritate some breeds of puppies more than others. If your puppy is one of these then have him checked out at your veterinary surgeon. The best way is to think about the world we live in by using the five senses of smell, sense, taste, hearing, and sight. The consider how they might apply to your puppy. Go through them one by one and pick out the ones that you think your puppy will have a problem with. Remember the sensitivity a dog experinces by using the five senses is different from ours. For example its sense of smell is many times stronger than ours.

Taking your puppy for his first walk, where he has previous being carried, is a major step. Where once he was being carried and looking down, he is now down on the footpath, looking up. He is now exposed to the smell of where other dogs have been walking. Get down on your hands and knees and see what he sees while he is walking alongside you. Then you will understand why so many puppies can soon become frightened. Try and plan a different walk every day and keep a watchful eye on his reaction to every type of experience he encounters. By doing this you can note anything that causes a problem and you can take steps to rectify this and stop your puppy from becoming frightened.

Try him on different surfaces like grass, concrete, soil, and tarmac footpaths. You will be surprised at his reactions. Certain situations will arise as your puppy progresses with his socialization and you will have to respond as and where the problem occurs. Watch out for aggressive dogs as one incident can undo all your hard work.

Comparing socializing your puppy to advanced driving, you have to be one step ahead of any problem that could occur. Be patient with your puppy and eventually you will have a dog you can take anywhere and be proud of.

Ian Nicholson has kept dogs for over fifty years including having worked in veterinary medicines and animal nutrition. He is giving away a Book "7 Proven Steps To Better Older Dog Health" at http://www.choosebestdogbreed.com