Doggy Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘aggression in puppies’

Puppy socialization is a very important part of teaching your new pet how to get along in this world.  Many dog owners are surprised to learn that quite a few cases of canine aggression could have been prevented if the dog’s owner had only known about this important aspect of dog training.

Why Is Puppy Socialization So Important?

When you expose your dog to lots of different people, different animals, and different places, he learns for himself that new sights, sounds, and people are fun, not scary.

You’ll want to start dog socializing while your pet is still a youngster.  You may not know that the best age for puppy socialization is when he’s between the ages of three and twelve weeks.  A young dog who has good experiences with new people, other dogs, and even cats will be much friendlier and less fearful of people.  This helps to prevent canine aggression towards strangers when he gets older.

But don’t be discouraged, because it’s never too late to work on dog socializing.  It may take a little longer with an older dog, but you can still use canine socialization in order to help your pooch overcome a fear of strangers and be a happier, more trustworthy friend.

How Is Puppy Socialization Done?

Dog socializing is not that difficult, if you’re willing to make a little effort.

Many dog trainers suggest a puppy preschool.  This is a series of group-training classes for puppies and their owners.Usually you’ll find about 10 puppies and their people, plus a couple of dog trainers.  During these classes, the puppies start to learn basic dog obedience commands like sit, stay, and others.

Puppy preschool teaches your dog more than just basic obedience lessons.  The play sessions are where your puppy learns essential social skills.When the play sessions are happening, the puppies are let off their leashes and allowed to interact with each other.  Why is this important?

First, your puppy is learning valuable lessons about getting along with other dogs.

Second, your pup will see lots of unfamiliar people since there are dog trainers and other dog owners present.  This is a great way for your puppy to learn not to be afraid of new people.

Third, it’s a controlled environment.  The dog trainers make sure things don’t get too wild.

Don’t Stop Puppy Socialization Too Soon

Many dog owners make the mistake of thinking that since their dog has been to puppy preschool, their puppy is now socialized.  This mistaken idea can lead to problems with aggression in puppies later on.

It’s important to continue to expose your young dog to new faces, new animals, and new places.  Sometimes puppies who seemed to be well socialized at a younger age “forget” those early lessons.  By the time your dog is between eight months and two years old, he may become fearful of people and start showing puppy aggression towards strangers.

You can learn more about using puppy socialization to prevent future problems with canine aggression by clicking on any link in this article.