Puppy Socialization
When I got my first dog, Dipper, I did all the research in the world but still made mistakes, especially when it came to proper and safe socialization.
By the time I got Fawkes, I knew better. We approached her socialization the right way—putting her in a wagon to observe the world neutrally, rather than allowing her to greet every person and dog on leash like I had done with Dipper.
Socialization isn’t about playtime with other dogs; it’s about introducing puppies to the world in a way that fosters neutrality to the environment, allowing them to observe and process things calmly. I worked hard to socialize Fawkes correctly and safely, and from what I've seen in her and in others who followed similar methods, I truly believe this is why she was able to become a fully trained service dog by just 1 year of age.
Through this experience, I’ve learned how crucial proper socialization is for puppies, and now I’m excited to share these lessons in my puppy socialization class!
Using a stroller the first month of having Mia allowed us to balance taking care of two dogs, introduce her to high-stimulation environments, and keep her safe while she was waiting to be fully vaccinated. This benefited her long-term training as she can settle in high-stimulation environments (e.g. patios, cafes, dog classes), she is well-mannered at dog-friendly stores and is able to ignore many different distractions (e.g. humans, dogs, sounds, etc.).
Ashley & Mia - @itsmiatheyellowlab
The biggest benefit for us was that we already had a dog who required a lot of exercise, which was too much for a puppy. Oakley was able to experience new things like going to stores, coffee outings, craft fairs, and different environments from a safe space, without the worry of other dogs or unexpected scares. This approach was not only great for her socialization but also better for her development, as it prevented unnecessary strain on her bones and growth plates.
Catie - @finnigantoller
