Author

Deni D.

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Founder & CEO

Socialisation is crucial for raising a well-adjusted and confident dog. Introducing your dog to various people, animals, environments, and experiences can help them develop positive behaviours and reduce fear and anxiety.

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Our Top 10 Tips for dog socialisation

Start Early: Begin socialisation as early as possible, ideally during the critical socialisation period (3-14 weeks for puppies). Early exposure helps prevent behavioural issues later in life.

Positive Experiences: Ensure that all interactions and exposures are positive. Use treats, praise, and play to create a positive association with new experiences.

Introduce Different People: Expose your dog to a variety of people, including different ages, genders, and ethnicities. This helps them become comfortable around diverse groups.

Meet Other Dogs: Arrange playdates with well-behaved dogs to teach your dog appropriate social behaviour. Ensure interactions are supervised to prevent negative experiences. We recommend reviewing the playmates for pups dogAdvisor article ↗︎

Exposure to Various Environments: Take your dog to different environments, such as parks, busy streets, and quiet neighbourhoods. This helps them adapt to different settings and stimuli.

Handling and Grooming: Regularly handle your dog’s paws, ears, and mouth to get them accustomed to being touched. This is important for grooming and veterinary visits.

Sounds and Noises: Introduce your dog to various sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, doorbells, and traffic. Gradually increase the volume to help them become desensitised.

Training Classes: Enrol in puppy or dog training classes. These classes provide structured socialisation opportunities and help with obedience training.

Controlled Exposure: Gradually introduce your dog to new experiences and environments. Avoid overwhelming them with too much too soon, and always monitor their reactions.

Patience and Consistency: Socialisation is an ongoing process. Be patient and consistent, and continue exposing your dog to new experiences throughout their life.

From the experts: Pay attention to your dog's behavioural thresholds during socialisation. These thresholds indicate the point at which your dog becomes uncomfortable or stressed. By gradually exposing your dog to new people, dogs, environments, and stimuli at a pace that keeps them below their threshold, you can build positive associations and prevent negative reactions. This approach ensures that each socialisation experience is positive and reinforces your dog's confidence in diverse situations.

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