How to Socialize Your Puppy

Puppy socialization is about introducing them to the kinds of sights, sounds, smells and situations they’ll come across throughout their life. Don’t confuse this with obedience training. What socializing your puppy does is:

• Get them to react positively to different types of stimuli
• Familiarize them with a wide variety of experiences
• Make them less likely to become anxious or aggressive in new situations

In general, the prime age to socialize your puppy is between 3 and 12 weeks old. After 18 weeks, socialization does become more challenging, but it can be done—so don’t let age discourage you from getting an older puppy or adult dog.

Whether a breeder or shelter starts the socialization process, your job as a pet parent is to keep it going by socializing them first at home, then in classes and out in the real world.

Read the Room: Puppy Socialization Basics

Be patient with your new puppy and resist the urge to expose your fur baby to a million things all at once. This is not a race. The goal is for your puppy to make positive associations with different experiences. Praise them and use training treats to reinforce those positive feelings.

If your puppy seems stressed out by an activity, stop what you’re doing and try again later. What you don’t want them to do is develop negative associations with these experiences. You as a pet parent also need to be even keeled when socializing your puppy. For example, if you react negatively when they’re introduced to new dogs or people, they’ll become fearful of similar future encounters. Since puppies often take behavioral cues from their humans, stay calm and try to be a role model for them.

Start Here: Socialize Your Puppy at Home

The more stimuli you can expose your puppy to, the better. As luck would have it, your home is full of socializing opportunities. These include introducing your new puppy to everyday items such as:

• Mirrors
• Toys, balls and frisbees
• TVs, smartphones and electronic devices
• Indoor surfaces like carpet, hardwood and tile
• Outdoor surfaces like grass and dirt
• Water, e.g., in a tub, outside in the rain
• Vacuum cleaners and brooms
• The sound of kitchen appliances, doorbells, music and cars

If you have other pets in your home, slowly introduce them to your puppy one by one. Let them check each other out for short periods of time, rewarding displays of positive behavior. If things get tense, separate your pets and live to socialize another day.

Now would also be a good time for your puppy to get used to wearing a collar or harness and being walked with a leash. Make your family and friends part of their socialization too. This will teach your puppy that you’re not the only person they can trust.

School Days: Socialize Your Puppy in a Class

When your puppy has gotten used to a small amount of stimuli and have started their vaccinations, they’ll be ready to graduate onto a puppy class. As mentioned before, variety is the key to socializing your puppy. These classes are where they can:

• Play with different dogs
• Meet new people
• Get exposed to different environments

On top of learning some basic commands, a puppy class is also a great place for receiving positive reinforcement during the socialization process.

Go Public: Socialize Your Puppy Out in the Real World

If you want a well-behaved dog, teach your puppy the world is not such a scary place. Once they’ve begun their vaccinations and can handle some stimuli, bring your fur baby to places outside the home and puppy class. For example:

• Visit your local Pet Supplies Plus (leashed pets are always welcomed here)
• Go on a puppy play date
• Walk along different streets around your neighborhood
• Take in new sights and sounds by sitting in your car in the parking lot of a strip mall, park or school

In your puppy’s world, familiarity breeds confidence. Introduce them to different sights, sounds, smells and situations by socializing your little buddy at home, in classes and out in public. Use praise and training treats as positive reinforcement. Discourage negative associations with new experiences as much as you can. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way to raising a well-adjusted dog and coming up with a dozen or so nicknames for your pup.