What is Puppy Socialization? ©

Properly socializing a young puppy is crucial during its critical developmental period, typically lasting from 3 to 14 weeks of age. The aim is to help the puppy become a well-adjusted, confident, and well-behaved adult dog. This period is when puppies learn and develop important social skills and habits that will significantly impact their behavior as they grow older. Without positive experiences during this time, puppies may develop fears, anxiety, or aggression towards new experiences, other dogs, or people. The process of socializing a puppy involves exposing them to various stimuli, including people, places, sounds, textures, and other animals, and teaching them how to interact positively and safely. Play and positive reinforcement, such as treats or praise, are typically used to encourage good behavior.

If you want to socialize your puppy, it's important to plan carefully, be patient, and use positive reinforcement. Follow these steps to help your puppy socialize effectively:

1. Introduce your puppy to different people. Make sure they meet people of different genders, ages, ethnicities, and styles. Encourage your puppy to interact with them positively, and reward good behavior.

2. Take your puppy to different environments. This could include parks, beaches, pet stores, and busy streets. Let your puppy explore and interact with their surroundings, but make sure they stay safe.

3. Introduce your puppy to other animals. Gradually introduce them to other dogs, cats, and other pets, one at a time, in a controlled and supervised environment. Reward positive interactions and separate them if there is any aggression.

4. Desensitize your puppy to different sounds. Start by playing sounds like thunder, fireworks, and doorbells at a low volume, and gradually increase it.

At Stokeshire, we begin socializing our doodle puppies at just 3 days old through Early Neurological Stimulation. This gradual process continues for 13 days, building upon itself to prepare the puppies for further socialization. Once they reach 16 days, our curriculum continues all the way through Doodle School, our puppies are introduced to new stimuli, people, and environments to further develop their social skills to produce a well-adjusted puppy ready to for new adventures with you!