So you got a new puppy. Now what? After you buy the toys, the food, and the collar, you need to work on your puppy’s behavior. Socializing a puppy is very important for his well-being and for his future behavior. It decreases aggression and teaches a puppy how to behave in public, around strangers, and around other dogs. Here are a few ideas for socializing your puppy to ensure he’ll have a happy social disposition.
- Enroll In Classes
Puppies can benefit from training classes in multiple ways. Enrolling in a training class not only helps your puppy learn new skills, but also helps him learn to socialize with other people and puppies. Classes are good places to teach your puppy to socialize because of the controlled environment and because of the presence of a professional. Puppies learn how to play with other puppies, how to be gentle, and they learn to get used to being handled by many different people.
- Take Him To The Store
Lots of pet stores encourage you to bring your pet along with you. Take your new puppy on a trip to the pet store where he’ll encounter lots of shoppers and other kinds of pets. This will introduce him to new sounds, new smells, and lots of attention. Nobody can resist a new puppy. Children usually want to pet puppies, so this will help your new pup learn how to behave and interact with younger people.
- Have A Puppy Party
Invite your friends over and encourage them to bring their pets too. You can socialize with your friends while you help your puppy socialize with other kinds of pets and people. Make sure your pup gets handled and petted by many different people to make sure he’s getting used to the different smells and sounds of various people.
- Head To The Dog Park
The dog park is usually a safe bet for socializing. Dogs who visit the dog park are usually friendly and most dog parks are divided into sections for differently sized breeds. This ensures your dog will meet dogs about his size and with good temperaments. Bring toys and teach your puppy to play by watching other dogs play. Playing is a learned skill for dogs so this is a big part of socialization.
