Teaching your puppy to socialize with other animals and humans from a young age is crucial for both his happiness and safety, as well as those around him. A puppy that doesn’t know how to properly socialize can often feel anxious around new people or pets, causing him to act in undesired ways such as barking, jumping, and showing aggression.
If you don’t know where to start with socializing your puppy, we’ve got you covered! Here are some tips from the experts to make sure that your dog is both well-trained and socialized.
Start By Realizing Why It Matters
A socialized dog is a safe, friendly, well-behaved dog. Dogs have innate protection instincts that trigger when they’re confronted with anything they believe is strange. Familiarizing them early on with a variety of other breeds will help them feel more comfortable—and more safe, and therefore calmer—as an adult.
Make a Commitment
Socializing your puppy won’t happen on its own! If you’ve realized that this needs to be a priority, find ways to do it, such as attending puppy meetups and visiting dog parks. Then, put it on your calendar—often—and don’t let yourself cancel.
Familiarize Yourself with Your Dog’s Body Language
The point of socializing is to manage your dog’s inherent triggers. He’s going to be stressed when you first start, so bring treats and prepare to be a calming influence on him. If your dog is letting you know through tensed-up muscles and frequent barking or growling that it’s too much for him, know when it’s time to take a break and try again in a few days.
Sign Up For a Puppy Training Class
This comes with two distinct benefits! The younger your dog is, the easier it will be to train them—so working with professionals to ensure your dog knows how to sit, stay, and heel will be a lifelong investment that pays off more if you begin very early. Secondly, puppy classes usually are taught in midsize groups of dogs and owners with several professional dog tutors helping keep order—which means your dog will have a safe space in which to learn how to play nicely with other dogs while keeping his main focus on you!
Key Takeaways
Dogs are complex creatures. They love, they grow, and they learn. That said, all dog owners need to forget the old adage “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Regardless of your dog’s age, they are able to learn new things, especially if you take them to one of the best puppy training classes around. At Argos Dog Training, we offer a variety of dog training courses in Boston including group sessions, private training, and beyond. Give us a call at 617-302-7467 or fill out an online form and we’ll have your pup enrolled in no time!
