One of the pleasures of having a dog is being able to take him everywhere and know he will be a joy to have around. A happy, friendly, well-mannered dog is the goal.
Early socialization has a big impact on achieving this goal.
Your dog should experience the larger world around him, not just the inside of his house, yard or kennel. He should feel different surfaces under his feet, smell new smells every day, meet new people and especially meet new dogs. All his senses should be challenged so he is not fearful of new sounds, sights, smells, objects, etc.
Your dog needs to be exposed to many situations and environments and socialization should start as early as possible. Once your dog has had the necessary vaccinations and can safely be around other animals, one very positive way to socialize your dog is to take obedience classes or join a puppy playtime group. A group of humans and their dogs all learning together provide such rich socialization opportunities, while reinforcing good behaviors.
Your young dog will look to you for guidance and reassurance. Approach people and other dogs in a calm, friendly manner, watching body position to catch any negative signals and show your dog what to do. Greet new dogs slowly by offering them your hand to sniff. Greet new people with a calm, friendly voice.
Praise your dog for being calm and relaxed in his greetings. The more situations you can introduce your young dog to, the more likely he will be to embrace newness than shy away from it.
For more information on the importance of socialization and how to effectively socialize your dog:
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Photos provided by Sue Grundfest
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