Page 313 - The Complete Dog Breed Book Choose the Perfect Dog for You, New Edition (DK)

S OCIALIZ A TION 313

playful, eager to please, and also less inclined to be wary of MAKING NEW FRIENDS
new and unusual things than he will be later on. Some Meeting a variety of other
socialization may have happened while your puppy was with animals, both large and small,
the breeder. This is important since the period at which will give your puppy confidence.
socialization becomes most critical is, broadly speaking,
between 8–12 weeks of age, and you may not pick your puppy of their own age. During play,
up until he is about that age. Once you have brought your dogs discover how to read
puppy home, socialization must continue. Anything that he each other’s body language
does not come across during his formative period and make and how to respond
a positive association with will be looked upon with distrust appropriately. They also learn
or fear if he meets it as an adult. It is important not to miss how to display friendliness, as
this deadline, so introduce your puppy to your friends and well as how to judge whether
their children. Having contact with toddlers and older people another dog is friendly.
is particularly important. Once fully vaccinated, take him out Adult dogs can also be very good at teaching puppies how
to meet other animals, go for a bus ride, and visit the park to to behave. Make sure that all of the adult dogs your puppy
look at the ducks. Socialize your puppy early and socialize meets are friendly and well socialized themselves. It can be
him well; you will find it a rewarding and joyful experience. difficult to stick to this rule if you take your puppy into
public spaces, so stay vigilant and move away quickly from
Getting used to other dogs potential trouble. A negative experience at this tender age
Dogs need to learn how to interact with other dogs at the could be enough to make your puppy wary of other dogs for
earliest opportunity. A puppy that is not socialized correctly life. A good puppy class should include interactions with
will grow up becoming more and more fearful of other dogs, “safe” adult dogs. By taking care that all of your puppy’s
and this usually leads to aggression. Puppies learn best experiences with other dogs are positive, you ensure that he
about getting along with other dogs by playing with puppies has no reason to be afraid in later life.

HIGHLY PERCEPTIVE PUPPY CLASS
Dogs do not have our acute vision, but they are good at detecting A well-organized puppy class will be of great benefit to your
movement, however slight. This allows them to predict our puppy. Look for classes that use only reward-based methods
movements, sometimes before we are conscious of them ourselves. and have only a few puppies playing together at any one time.

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