05/08/2025
Exposure is one of the main components in helping your pup grow into a confident dog. Exposing our dogs to any and everything in a way that isn’t overwhelming or scary is vital. This includes desensitizing our pups to touch as well..
Handling paws, squeezing their toes, touching their stomachs, lifting their legs and tail are great ways to help them become accommodated to handling that will be beneficial throughout their lives. Make these experiences short, calm, and positive; include a lot of gentle praise while maintaining a level of calmness.
Sounds to expose them to can include traffic, babies crying, cats meowing, horns honking, sirens, thunder, fireworks, television, and radio.
Tools to expose them to are collars, harnesses, leashes, clickers, and clothing or footwear if you live in an environment where those things are necessary.
Textures they should feel and see are grass, concrete, water, rocky terrain, sand, and shiny flooring such as polished wood or marble.
People with hats or beards, using wheelchairs, walkers, canes, or carrying an umbrella.
Dogs and cats, horses and goats...
Like I said, any and everything. 😄
I would also like to clarify that exposure does not have to mean direct interaction. They can benefit from seeing new dogs without having to play with them, which can sometimes be too overwhelming. They can benefit from the sounds of traffic without having to be directly beside the cars on a busy street.
It’s all about making these things become the “background” to their lives instead of a startling experience later on.
My Dog Rules K9 Academy
Macon, GA
Call or text: 478-508-2994
www.mydogrulesk9academy.com