The best gift for your puppy: Early socialization

Puppies, especially toy breed pups, are often showered in material gifts. They sleep on organic bedding, play with brightly colored toys and eat better food than their parents'. There is nothing wrong with this in my opinion - most people enjoy pampering their dogs. And companion dogs thrive on attention and good nutrition!

What makes me sad is when the most important gift of all is missing: early socialization. It is an easy gift to give early in life (by the age of 14 weeks.) But dogs who do not receive the gift of early socialization (or receive it in time) suffer for it for the rest of their lives. It is difficult, and sometimes not possible, to rehabilitate a dog who is undersocialized.

What does undersocialization “look like?”

• Dogs who are “slow” to warm up to guests or new people on the street. Many bark and back up; others may growl or cower.
• Show a dog a new object and he backs away from it, cowering, barking or both.
• Take a dog for a walk in a new place and she’d rather go back home or to the car.
• Dogs who startle at common household stimuli: loud TV, blender, vacuum, dishwasher, cooking smells, door slamming, person sneezing – this can be a very long list!

What can be done to prevent these problems?

The wonderful thing about the gift of early socialization is that it is free and easy to give to your puppy! The DogStarDaily.com website contains valuable information about socializing puppies, with a focus on people and other dogs.

Questions about how to socialize your puppy? Give me a ring!