If a puppy is raised without contact with humans or other dogs it will not be able to interact with them as an adult dog and become a happy trainable companion. A puppy that is raised with it’s mother and littermates until it is 6-9 weeks old and has lots of positive contact with humans will have a good start on being able to bond with new owners and play appropriately with new animals it meets. The more things a puppy is exposed to when it is young, the more things it will be accustomed to as an adult dog.

Your responsibility as a new puppy owner is to continue the socialization process started by the littermates and breeder, by exposing your new puppy to a variety of different stimuli (people, other animals, loud noises, etc...) in a safe way. The most critical learning or socialization period is from three to sixteen weeks of age so waiting until your puppy is older is a mistake. The puppy’s first few days in your home should be used for adjustment and getting used to the new routine but after that the serious socialization begins.

What should you socialize your puppy to?

The broad answer is anything your puppy will be expected to tolerate as an adult dog. People of all shapes, size and colors should be introduced to your puppy, especially children. Other animals, household and environmental noises and places such as groomers, veterinary offices and playgrounds, are just a few basic ways to socialize your puppy. We recommend a few "fun visits" to our hospital between shot visits so your puppy has positive (NO needles!) experiences at the clinic before it forms a lifelong opinion about the place based on just the vaccine visits. Come in anytime and tell the front desk you’re here for a socialization visit and they’ll know what to do. This is also a good way to get your puppy comfortable with car rides.

How should your puppy be socialized?

Carefully and thoroughly. The introduction of anything new should not be forced upon him and be so frightening that it will lead to a fearful response the rest of his life, therefore patience and understanding are key. Socialization to humans should start the moment you bring your puppy into her new home. Gentle handling everyday by all family members with careful observation of younger children is very important. Care must be taken not to give too much attention or your puppy can become spoiled and learn to expect it. If your puppy is fearful around new people then extra attention is appropriate to help him overcome his fears. Take your puppy around the neighborhood, introducing her to the mail carrier and the neighbors.

Let your puppy take introductions to anything new at his own pace and do not reward fearful behavior. If you try soothing the puppy when it reacts fearfully, your attentions is sending him a message that it’s OK to react this way. Ignore the fearful behavior and praise your puppy when it shows curiosity and courage. Repeated exposure to things that cause fear without anything bad happening will gradually build your puppy's confidence and allow him to start exploring. If you are having problems with an especially fearful or shy puppy, please call for advise. Socialization of your puppy to handling is also important, so touch your puppy all over everyday. This is covered more in the grooming section and can be demonstrated on a puppy visit.

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