It’s a big responsibility when you bring a puppy into your home. As an owner, you want the best for your puppy, and you want to do everything right. That’s perfectly understandable, and that’s why we’ll discuss the socialization of your puppy in this blog, so you’re well-prepared.
What is socialization?
When we talk about socialization in general, we’re essentially distinguishing between two things: on the one hand, you want your puppy to form good social relationships with the people in the family or the other animals in the family. On the other hand, you also want your puppy to learn to ignore things like cyclists, scooters, cars, and garbage bins. This last point, ignoring, is called habituation. Because this is quite difficult to remember and people are already very focused on socialization, dog schools use the term socialization for everything. What we’re discussing here is about forming relationships and ignoring objects.
When do you start socializing?
Socialization begins from the puppy’s third week of life. This means the breeder also plays a significant role, starting with things like introducing them to strangers, playing sounds, and (depending on the puppies’ location) introducing them to the outside world by letting them play in the garden. From around the eighth week of life, you, as the owner, begin to play a significant role in socialization. The puppy comes to your home, and then it’s up to you to initiate socialization.
How do you socialize your puppy?
Many people feel the pressure of proper socialization. Everything must be perfect. We understand this, but we also believe it’s important to understand that socialization should be done in moderation. Once your puppy has a new experience, they’ll need to process it. So let your puppy rest afterward. Don’t cram everything into one day but take it easy. Build it up gradually. It’s important that the puppy’s experience is positive. So don’t go straight to a very busy street, but gradually get your puppy used to traffic at quieter times. To give you an example, when Zoë, one of our dogs, was a young puppy, we wanted to take her on the tram. To help her adjust as best as possible, we boarded the tram outside of rush hour and traveled two stops before getting off again. This way, you don’t overwhelm a puppy with all the new impressions.
Tips for at home
A puppy won’t just fall asleep on their own. They often don’t know they’re tired. A tired puppy becomes overactive. Zoomies and harder biting are all common. It helps to have a puppy pen to put your puppy in. You can place a crate, blanket, or basket inside. This will prevent your puppy from following you and will help them settle down more quickly. It’s okay to give them a bone to calm them down.
Conclusion
Dose the experiences during socialization and allow your puppy time to process them. Make sure the experiences are positive, so always start in a quiet environment and don’t immediately practice in a very busy place. Observe your puppy. Some puppies are more nervous than others. This is perfectly normal. Just like people, every dog is different.
