Or raising a happy, confident, well-rounded puppy
By Sally Bradbury
Everyone knows the importance of socialising a puppy, but it isn’t always easy to get it right. Check below to see if you are on the right track:
Choosing Your Puppy
Good
- Research your chosen breed
- Choose a reputable breeder or rescue
- Be prepared for the third degree from the breeder or rescue
- Be prepared to go on a waiting list for a puppy
- See the litter with Mum at least once before buying, and details (including a picture) of Dad
Bad
- Buying a puppy from an online advert
- Buying a puppy from an ‘all singing, all dancing’ website that always has puppies available
- Buying a puppy from someone who will sell to you without checking your suitability
- Buying an older puppy that the breeder has hung onto before deciding that they are not going to keep it, but did not socialise
- Deciding you want a puppy and buying one tomorrow
Consequences
A happy, confident, well-rounded puppy…
… or run the risk that your puppy has been raised in squalid conditions with a sickly, nervous, stressed Mum; stress that has affected the puppies in-utero and in the nest.
People
Good
- Take puppy out in your arms or a sling and watch people from a safe distance. Do this in many different environments, all within your puppy’s comfort zone
- Always allow puppy the choice to interact with people or not
Bad
- ‘Pass the puppy’ at puppy class
- Letting strangers approach and touch your puppy
- Encouraging people to pick up your puppy
- Allowing people to ‘discipline’ your puppy
Consequences
A happy, confident, well-rounded puppy…
… or a puppy that is scared or wary of strangers, and is reactive to people out on walks or visitors in the home…
… or a puppy that runs up to people in the park, jumps all over visitors, has zero manners and zero recall.
Dogs
Good
- Walks and play dates with carefully selected, sensible adult dogs and other compatible pups
- A good puppy class with the emphasis on dog/owner interaction in the company of others
Bad
- Puppy parties
- Puppy classes with free-for-all play sessions
- Dog parks
- Encouraging or allowing your on-lead puppy to approach unknown dogs
- Letting your puppy play with every dog they meet at the park
- Getting two puppies at the same time or a few months apart and letting them entertain each other all day
- Allowing a puppy to spend all day with, and be a pest to, an older dog
- Letting other dogs ‘teach him a lesson’
Consequences
A happy, confident, well-rounded puppy…
… or a puppy that is scared or wary of dogs and becomes reactive to dogs when out…
… or a puppy that thinks every dog he sees is his best mate, runs to dogs when off lead and is reactive when on lead, has zero manners, and zero recall.
The importance of early socialising cannot be overemphasised. This must be done carefully and considerately, while ensuring that stress is kept to a minimum. Experiences should be positive, as well as being in the best interests of the puppy. This will ensure that he/she grows up to be a happy, confident, well-rounded dog.