Introduction

I know what you’re thinking: “Puppies are cute little balls of fur that love to play and snuggle with you. They don’t need socialization!” Well, I’m here to tell you that’s not true! Puppies do need to learn how to interact with other people and dogs in order to grow up into well-adjusted adult dogs (and more importantly, into good friends!). While some pups come from breeders who have been working on their manners for months before they even meet their new families, others haven’t had the opportunity or know-how to get started right away. That’s why we’ve teamed up with our local vet clinic and pet store here in Staunton, Virginia (just outside of Charlottesville) for a series of blog posts about training your puppy using positive reinforcement methods so he’ll be ready for life out there beyond your living room after just a few short weeks!

Getting outside and going on walks is a great way to get your puppy out into the world.

Taking your dog on walks is a great way to get him out into the world and meet other dogs. It’s a good opportunity for him to socialize with other dogs and learn from them, as well as expose him to new places and people. You can walk around your neighborhood or take your pup to a park or other place where there will be plenty of other dogs. Make sure you keep your pup on leash at all times!

Go to places where pets are more likely to be like parks and pet stores.

If you’re looking to socialize your puppy, there are plenty of options. You can even bring them up to people who don’t have pets. This is a great way for your puppy to get some exercise and fresh air while they make new friends!

Start with people that you know and trust around your puppy.

Start with people that you know and trust around your puppy. If a person is not comfortable around dogs, it will be even harder for your puppy to get used to them. You may want to ask the person if they would like to feed or walk your puppy while they are there. Some people can be very nervous around strange dogs, so just make sure that they are comfortable enough with your puppy before letting them near them. Do not let strangers near your pup until he has been introduced properly by someone who knows how to handle him/her safely!

When introducing a new animal into the family unit, it is important for all of us involved in this process (including myself) to remember one key detail: puppies do NOT know what toys are yet! They don’t understand color differences or shapes; therefore anything colorful should always be considered dangerous until proven otherwise through multiple successful interactions between owner/child and dog-toy combination (this goes both ways). This means no wooden blocks! Please only give soft rubber toys for chewing purposes because those sharp edges really hurt when caught underfoot by an unsuspecting foot.”

Let your puppy practice good manners when guests come over by waiting quietly while they come in the door. When they sit on the floor or down, give your puppy a treat or toy. When guests leave, you can let them pet or play with your dog.

• Make sure your guests are comfortable with the puppy before they come in.
• Let them know that you’d like them to sit on the floor or down so that your puppy can approach properly.
• Don’t let your dog jump on them and don’t let it grab their face or hands.

Gradually introduce new people to your dog about 10 minutes at a time. Have them hold out their hand for sniffing first, then offer a treat for sniffing. They can even give him a treat themselves if you show them how to do it without touching the dog’s face (rewarding means no treats from people other than you!).

Gradually introduce new people to your dog about 10 minutes at a time. Have them hold out their hand for sniffing first, then offer a treat for sniffing. They can even give him a treat themselves if you show them how to do it without touching the dog’s face (rewarding means no treats from people other than you!).

Make sure that you’re there at all times when introducing your puppy to new people, whether they are family members or strangers. It is important that everyone in the household is consistent when giving rules about how much physical contact your puppy should have with others, as well as who gets to offer treats (you).

Let children approach on their own and respect it if your puppy doesn’t want any contact. If he wants contact, make sure they ask before petting him and keep hands out of his mouth or face (so he doesn’t get used to that).

Let children approach your puppy on their own and respect it if the puppy doesn’t want any contact. If he does, make sure that your child asks before petting him and keeps their hands out of his mouth or face (so he can’t get used to not having something in there). Make sure children know not to grab treats out of your puppy’s mouth, either!

Give treats after meeting new people so he learns it’s helpful to have contact with strangers. Make sure children know not to grab treats out of his mouth! If you’re worried about children giving him too many treats, just let them hold out their hand and let him sniff instead of getting any food involved in the first place.

>”It’s important that children learn they can’t hold out their hand to a puppy or he’ll think it’s OK to bite them,” says Stanley Coren, PhD., a professor of psychology at the University of British Colombia and member of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. “He might growl or snap before biting, but by holding out your hand you’re teaching him that is an acceptable behavior.”

If you’re worried about children giving him too many treats, just let them hold out their hand and let him sniff instead of getting any food involved in the first place.

Conclusion

The most important thing is to remember that your puppy doesn’t know any of this stuff. He’s learning, too. Just keep working with him on socializing, and don’t worry if he gets scared or reactive at first! It’s normal for puppies to be nervous around new people and places at first, but over time he’ll learn how things work and get more comfortable with the world around him. In the meantime, just keep giving treats when you see your puppy doing something good so that he knows what behavior we want from him!