18/06/2025
Puppy socialisation is extremely important, it is critical for their learning and development and can influence and shape their behaviour for the rest of their lives🐾
Socialisation isn't just introducing your puppy to people and other puppies/dogs, it also includes introducing them to different sites, objects, surfaces, sounds and experiences - everything new needs to be paired with something good so that your puppy forms positive associations with the experience, eg. treats, praise and pats!🦴
Key tips are:
> It is important to make sure your puppy is calm when you start any new socialisation/experience, have plenty of treats ready to use, positive reinforcement is key!
> Always make socialisation sessions short and positive and only introduce one to two new things at a time to avoid overwhelming your pup
> Make sure your puppy has the choice to investigate what you are introducing to them and the ability to move away if they want to
> Never force your puppy to do anything but rather reward them for investigating a new experience - whether that is just looking calmly or approaching/interacting
> If your puppy is concerned by the new experience, reassure them! But if they are still worried, remove your puppy from the situation and try again another day!
A great place to start is puppy school!
If you have a new puppy and have any questions, we are always happy to help!🐶