Give your pup a good head start
Socialization is an ongoing process throughout your dog’s life, but the most critical period is before six months of age. Quite literally, socialization means making your dog sociable.
Socializing your puppy means providing quality time. Give him lots of attention and affection. Pet him and call him by his chosen name. Introduce him to your neighbors and "service people" such as the mail carrier and others who come to your home regularly. Show children how to pet him.
Socializing your puppy to other dogs is important, but this does not mean letting him run free in the neighborhood. Give your puppy the opportunity for safe, controlled interaction with dogs whose owners you know and be sure the dogs are immunized. For a puppy, this includes introducing him in happy ways to all sorts of people, places and things. Here are a few things you can do:
Go to training classes.
Visit dog-loving friends.
Take your puppy on errands with you in temperate weather. (As always, never leave your dog in the car in warm weather. It can become unbearably hot quickly.)
Invite people over to your house.
Socialization isn’t about forcing your puppy into scary situations but rather about creating pleasant associations with new events and faces. Things to keep in mind:
What a puppy learns early in life stays with him for life.
Between one month and three months old, a puppy gets almost all of his adult sensory, motor and learning abilities.
The more loving interaction you have with your pet, the better.
Include a little work in your play times and a lot of play in your work times. Make learning fun!
As soon as your veterinarian says it is safe, introduce him to the sights and sounds of his world. Make this fun by praising him and giving him a kibble when he explores his world.
Grooming
Grooming and handling daily throughout your dog’s life help make him a calmer, better-behaved, more tolerant companion. Make grooming a special time for you and your dog. Whether he needs it or not, brush him daily with much affection and reassurance so he learns to love this time together.
Handling his paws, tail, ears and mouth.
When your puppy is tired, gently handle his paws, look in his ears, and open his mouth. Use your finger to gently massage his gums. This prepares him for having his teeth brushed. Praise him warmly when he allows these things. Get him used to all this early and grooming him later in life will be easier.
Feeding
Utilize every opportunity to socialize your puppy. Make feeding time a happy experience by praising your puppy for being a good dog as you place his dish on the floor. Considerable puppy-owner bonding can occur through positive feeding experiences.
Feeding can also aid in training your puppy. As you place his food dish on the floor, give the command, ‘Come.’ This introduces your puppy to an obedience command in a very positive way.
As you socialize and train your puppy, remember that puppies are eager to please. Reward your puppy for good behavior by praising him. A little praise goes a long way in helping your puppy become an endearing companion.
