08/30/2026
Socialization is so much more than simply putting a puppy around people and other dogs.
For Senyu, I want to build toward neutrality, being able to notice what is happening around her without feeling like she needs to engage with it.
That means I’m going to build her experiences gradually, starting in environments where I can control the difficulty and then increasing distractions as she’s ready. The goal isn’t to keep her away from the world; it’s to help her learn how to comfortably exist in it.
People will absolutely be part of her life, and she will learn to be comfortable being handled by people when appropriate, including for veterinary care, grooming, and other situations where someone may need to physically handle her. I’m just going to be intentional about how and when those interactions happen.
I’m excited to document this process with Senyu because I want you to see what socialization looks like when the goal isn’t simply “my puppy likes everyone and everything,” but rather “my puppy is comfortable with the world around her.”
This is the approach I’ve chosen for my puppy, and I’m excited to see how she develops as we work through it together. 🐾
