Socializing your dog is very important. Throughout your dog’s life, you’ll take him to the vet, people will come to your house, he’ll go for walks, you’ll take him to the dog park, and to the kennel. You’ll wan tot make sure he’s comfortable around people and other animals for the well-being of both you and your dog.

There are three main steps that a you, as a dog owner, can take to ensure that your dog is well-socialized. Those three steps are:

1. TAKE HIM INTO CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS

The sooner you get started in socializing your puppy, the better. The later your puppy is introduced to new environments, the more likely he is to from anxieties. The ideal age to introduce your dog to certain controlled environments is between three and 12 weeks old. Examples of controlled environments are:

• Exposure to new people. You can do this by inviting family and friends to your home, you can visit their homes, or you can take your puppy to the park.
• Exposure to other animals or pets.
• Exposure to various noises such vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, or even people speaking loudly.
• Exposure to a variety of surfaces such as mud, carpet, grass, concrete, gravel, tile, or metal.
• Riding in a car so it’ll be enjoyable for your dog to go to the vet, to the park, to a friend’s house, etc.

By gradually exposing your puppy to various controlled environments, you’ll ensure that he’ll feel comfortable in a wide variety of situations as he get solder. If your dog isn’t used to being in a number of different environments, he’s likely to suffer anxiety when in these situations which could lead to aggressive behaviors in your dog—and will cause stress for you.

2. EXPOSE HIM TO NEW AND DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES

Everything is new for a puppy. Playing in your backyard, going to a park with a lot of activity, and even going for a walk while leashed are all new experiences for a puppy.  Introduce each one of these experiences gradually and pay attention to how your dog acting and reacting. If you sense that your puppy is feeling overwhelmed, give him a chance to relax or take a nap—puppies need a lot of sleep. Between 12 and 18 weeks of age, your puppy may become less accepting of new experiences. This is perfectly normal and is how he learns to protect himself without his mother.

3. TRAIN YOUR DOG

Enrolling your puppy in a training program is an excellent way to socialize him. You can find training classes at your local humane society, large pet stores, and vet clinics. These classes usually hold about 20 people, so your puppy will be exposed to people as well as other puppies. These classes will help you learn how to properly train your puppy to respond to positive reinforcement such as praise and treats, to learn the importance of being leashed, and responding to commands while leashed. Most puppy training classes allow some off-leash time, which is a good opportunity for your puppy to get to know other dogs and practice some of the training he is learning.

SOCIALIZING OLDER DOGS

One question you may have is, “How do I socialize my older dog that I adopted from a shelter?” This will take more time and more patience on your part, but it can be done. It doesn’t matter why your older dog wasn’t well-socialized, the important thing is that no dog is too old to be trained and every dog deserves a chance for a happy life. Here at Genesee Pet Resort, our staff is experienced in working with any type of canine behavior issues to help your dog become better socialized.

Never underestimate the importance of taking the time to socialize your dog. If you work long hours, our daycare facility is an excellent option for you and your pup. Your dog will get to socialize and burn off some energy, and you won’t have to worry about taking him for a walk at the end of a long day. If you have questions about our services, or would like a customized quote, please call us 262-521- 2693, or fill out this application.

Thank you!