Training : Socialization : When to start?

Start socializing your puppy from the day you get it. Every day that goes by is an opportunity in your puppy's life that you have lost!

Be smart about where you take your pup so you do not expose it to unnecessary diseases like parvo. Don't put your puppy on the ground where unknown animals have been. The best thing to do is to wheel your pup around in a shopping cart, or a wheeled pet carrier.

When socializing your puppy, don't encourage or reward fearful behavior. If your puppy is afraid of something, walk up to it in a happy, upbeat way, and cheerfully touch it. Most of the time, your pup will pick up on your attitude and approach the object overcoming its fear. You can also try sprinkling the object with yummy treats. Most pups will tentatively approach something if food is involved. If your puppy isn't willing to do so, don't force it. Just make a mental note to keep exposing your pup to that object in the future until he/she is comfortable with it. Never make any socialization experience become a frightening one.

Try not to push your puppy too much at a time. Exposing your pup to new things for half an hour a day is plenty. Puppies get tired fast!