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SOCIALIZING YOUR
PUPPY
The activities listed below will help your new puppy become
incorporated
into the household. This process is called
socialization.
Your new pet will become strongly attached to
your family during his
period of socialization: between 6-12 weeks of age. This bond will
last a lifetime. It is important that your puppy learn he/she is
the subordinate member of the family. This will minimize the
potential for bad habits and behavior problems such as
dominance or
aggression. It is especially important to work with the male for
he will have a greater tendency to want to become dominant when he
matures.
It is vital that everyone in the family practice these exercises.
Younger children should have adult supervision. The following activities
should become part of the normal routine for your dog.
1. While the puppy is small,
pick it up frequently.
2. Look into the dog’s eyes
until it looks away.
3. Rub the puppies stomach while
it is on it’s back.
4. During grooming/petting,
use moderate pressure from the to tail.
5. During play don’t allow
puppy to stand on or over you.
6. Avoid tug-of-war games.
Encourage fetch and retrieve.
7. Teach the dog to sit.
Use short/frequent sessions for young
dogs.
8. Practice taking food away at
mealtime and then giving it back again. Praise compliance.
9. Displace dog from sleeping
area. Praise dog for compliance.
10. Teach pup to relinquish toys
or objects on command. ( Give, leave it, etc.)
11. Praise dog for good behavior
even when resting quietly.
12. Practice manipulating the
ears, paws, tail, and mouth.
13. Never use a command unless
you’re sure the dog will obey or you can make it obey.
14. Have your pet obey commands
prior to everyday activities. Incorporate obedience
commands. (Sit
before feeding, heeling before playing, sit before going outdoors.)
15. Use effective punishments. -
Grab scruff of neck, shake and say "no". Along with the "no", put them in a sit or down position for a short period of
time. This way they have to stop what they are going, sit and
behave. Never let a puppy/dog growl. If it is a larger dog,
slightly lift up on the leash, straight above the choke collar, hold for
a moment, advise dog "no-sit", release pressure. It dogs
continues to growl or jump around, choke up again for a moment, do the
no-sit, and release pressure. When dogs responds by stopping
the misbehavior and sitting quietly, then immediately say
"good-dog" and pet him while he continues sitting for a few
moments. Show him that is what you want him to do.
                            
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