Socialisation
Socialization is the single most important time in puppy development. The goal here is to let the young puppy positively experience as many situations as possible to boost his confidence...Not neutral or bad.
Puppy positively experiencing situations boosts his/her confidence and help them becoming a great companion for life.
Taking your puppy outside before they’ve had their jabs can be daunting. Diseases like Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, and Parainfluenza are all potential fatal, with the majority of infections being caught by puppies who’ve been in the same area as an infected dog (like the park).
However, socialising your puppy means they’ll need to be outside, taking in the big wide world.
You’ll need to do that safely by carrying your puppy in your arms or Puppy back pack with their favorite blanket.....
Pre-vaccinations, and not allowing them on the floor, grass, park, beach or where other (potentially unvaccinated dogs) have been.
(Socialisation is so important and I've been told over and over, by numerous vets that there’s a bigger risk of not socializing him than catching an infection outside.)
The goal is that the puppy has positive experiences. It's important to watch the puppy's response and note what it is and to also give treats to help ensure the exposure is a success
Proactively socialising your puppy is very important. Puppies have what is called a ‘critical socialisation period’ between approximately 3 -16 weeks of age. The puppy’s experiences during this critical period of learning and development can influence and shape their behaviour well into adulthood.
Socialising your puppy is an important part of their training and development. Socialisation means learning to be part of society.
When we talk about socialising puppies, we're talking about helping them learn to be comfortable as a pet and human companion within human society— a society that includes many different types of people, environments, buildings, sights, noises, smells, animals ...
Get out and about with Puppy Back Pack..... they love it.
The mental stimulation they get from smelling the fresh air, watching & hearing cars zoom by, while you walk is a great way to socialise an unvaccinated puppy.
Things to remember when socialising your puppy
Here’s a recap of the things we’ve talked about when socialising your puppy before injections:
- Socialisation at a young age is key to happy, anxiety-free adult dogs.
- Never allow your unvaccinated puppy on the floor or any surface where other animals have been before; always carry your puppy when taking & ticking places off your socialisation checklist. ( your puppy comes with their very own Back Pack Carrier)
- The more high-quality experiences you can give your dog, the better.
- Always remove your puppy from the situation if they show extreme signs of distress.
Can my puppy socialise with vaccinated dogs?
Yes... Even if your puppy has not finished their vaccination course, you can socialise them with vaccinated dogs. Just make sure the place you’re mixing them is safe, where any other unvaccinated dogs won’t have been–like your back garden, for example.
Are you ready to start carrying your puppy into the big wide world, and prepare him for a lifetime of fun when he’s finished his course of vaccinations?
You might be struggling for places to take him, or people to make sure he interacts with.
In this guide, we’re sharing places you should be socialising puppies before vaccinations, including:
Your daily walks
Your family and friends
Seeing Other animals, eg cats, cows
Bus and train stations
Your daily errands
The vets
Some recent research suggests that puppies need to be exposed to things several times over the socialisation period.
Here's a free download checklist that can help
Weird thingsGrooming clipper sounds
Big plastic objects
Plastic bags
Balloons
Umbrellas
Mirrors
Big balls
Thrown things
Shopping trolleys
Prams
Fast movement
Kids toys
Wind socks
Brooms
Vacuum cleaner
The wind
The wind blowing bushes/trees
Flags
Balls and frisbees
Tents
Flashlights
Travelling
Escalators
Lifts
The car
Planes
Boats
Other animals
Puppy school
Big dog
Little dog
Shaggy dog
Smooth dog
Goats
Cows
Sheep
Alpacas
Chickens
Horses
Cats
Bull breed dogs
Rabbits
Birds
Different Types of People
Men
Women
Boys
Girls
Shuffling people
Slouched people
People with glasses
People on crutches
People with walking sticks
People with walking frames
People walking strangely
Babies
Parties
People on roller blades
Wheelchairs
Fat people
Thin people
Tall people
Short people
People in dress ups (masks, costumes, big hats, etc)
People in big coats
People with beards
People with sunglasses
People of all races
Bald people
People exercising (running, jogging, star jumps, etc)
Children and babies
Dancing people
Busking people
Different surfaces
Bean bags
Tiles
Floorboards
Bubble wrap
Different walking surfaces
Wobbly bridges
Heights
Agility Equipment
Gravel
Water stuff
Sprinklers
Hoses
Water
The beach
The Bath..water running in the bath
Swimming pools
People swimming
Water feature
Rain
Places
Airport
Skate park
Bus Stop
Train station
Loud fun places ( e.g. Markets, show, fair)
Football game, soccer game
Supermarket
School at end of the day... Kids rushing out
Coffee shop
Bunnings
Tennis game
Office
Speed way
Place with crowds
Main roads
The vet
Moving and making noise
Lawn mower
Bikes
Vaccum cleaner
Scooters - Kids on scooters & skate boards
Bus
Train
Whipper snippers
Ride on lawn mowers
Bob cats
Cars
Trucks
Motorbikes
Chainsaws
Fork lift
Helicopters
Aeroplanes
Hair dryer
Suit cases
Wheelie Bins
Remote control cars
Ceiling fans
‘Life sized’ pictures of people
Glass sliding doors
Boats
Noises
Fireworks
Storms (e.g. thunder and lightning)
Parties
Musical instruments (piano, guitar, saxophone)
Cheering
School bell
Saucepans
Radio
Lawn mower
The sound of a carbonated drink opening
Being restrained
Leads
Harnesses
Halti/head harness
Muzzle
Opening mouth
Cutting nails
Grooming (as appropriate to the breed)
Clippers
Being tethered
Having ears cleaned
Having eyes cleared
Having every part of the body handled
Being picked up
Teeth cleaning