Socialization Safety Guidelines
You just acquired a new puppy and are understandably excited to show them the world. Your new trainer says, “Start socializing them now. Take them out and create positive experiences around new things,” but during your recent visit to the veterinarian you were told, “Don’t put your puppy on the ground until they are fully vaccinated.” Completely confused, you are left wondering what to do and what is safe and unsafe for your new puppy.
Many pet parents are in the exact same boat and the truth is, there is no one answer for all. Trainers are concerned about an under socialized puppy that might need to be rehomed later in life if something comes up and you can no longer care for your dog. An under socialized dog will have a hard time finding a new home and possibly need to be euthanized. Veterinarians are concerned about your puppy contracting a disease such as parvo or distemper and becoming very sick. Even with the medications made to treat the disease it is possible that your puppy will not recover and might pass away. So the question really is, what are you comfortable doing? And what kind of safety procedures will you are putting in place?
Statistics show it is more likely that your puppy will have behavioral issues later on in life if not properly socialized than catch something while out in the world socializing them. Even The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has a position statement on puppy socialization hoping to increase awareness of the need for socialization in puppies and raise the issue of how vaccination protocols affect the socialization process in puppy classes. So Little Paws Academy is here to give you some helpful advise and start the conversation about how you can safely socialize your puppy during this valuable and vulnerable time.
Dog Greetings - If your family or friends have friendly and vaccinated dogs they can be great assets. We recommend picking age and size appropriate dogs for your puppy to meet as large differences can cause issues possibly leading to negative interactions. Also, keep in mind that if these dogs frequent places such as dog parks or daycares, it is more likely that they can transmit something to your puppy even if they are not sick themselves.
Going on Walks - Taking your puppy out on safe walks is all about picking the correct locations. You are looking for clean areas. You want to avoid highly dog trafficked areas such as dog parks. Also, when out on walks, do not let your puppy smell or roll in other animal’s feces.
Meeting New People - Having a party where your close friends visit is a great way to start socializing your puppy to new people. You can do this while they are still very young by adding a few extra safety measures such as asking guests to remove their shoes just outside your home and washing their hands before interacting with your puppy. You can also make these parties more entertaining by asking your guests to wear themed costumes or different accessories such as hats, sunglasses, and canes or walkers as having positive experiences around these items now is crucial in your puppy’s healthy development.
Attending Puppy Classes - Attending puppy class is one of the easiest ways to start to socialize your puppy at a young age. During these classes you will learn how to read your puppy’s body language, socialization techniques, and a few basic obedience cues. Below is a list of questions to ask the instructor before picking the class you will attend.
Do they require vaccinations?
Do they sanitize the training and play area before class starts?
What are the ages of the other puppies in class?
How many other puppies are in class?
Do they offer play sessions during or after the class?
You are looking for somewhere that requires vaccinations, sanitizes the training and play area, separates puppies by ages or sizes, and offers play sessions with appropriate supervision. If you have a more outgoing puppy, look for a class with slightly more students. If you have a more timid puppy, pick a class with less and smaller students.
Want to know more about socialization you can do with your puppy at a young age? Or looking for more personalized help? At Little Paws Academy we have socialization programs tailored to your needs, so contact us today!
