Puppy training and socialization is one of the most important things you can do from the first day you bring home your puppy.

Puppy training is not just obedience commands like sit and stay it is much more. You have the job of teaching your dog about the world you live in. Remember a puppy is like a baby and they must be taught everything.

There’s one thing that many people do not know about puppies it is that they have a very short window of opportunity in which they can be socialized to the world
around them. During this time you will build the foundation of how your puppy will behave as an adult.

If they are not properly socialized during this time they will be fearful of people, other animals and new environments. You will then have a dog that becomes very stressed at the sight of new people, dogs, and new places. Stressed dogs can become aggressive and bite with little provocation.

This short window of opportunity to socialize your dog is between six and sixteen weeks of age after this time it is much more difficult and less effect. Although
sixteen weeks is the upper end of the time frame for optimum results socialization should not end at this point. Your dog needs to continue with socialization for the
rest of its life and “practice makes perfect”.

Now that you understand that these first weeks at home are so important how you go about training and socializing your new puppy.  You need to get started now
this time passes very quickly.  Below is a guideline of some of the different things to expose your puppy to:

1. Ten new people each week
2. Five friendly dogs a week.
3. Cats or any other animals they might see regularly.
4. Five new environments.
5. Many different household and neighborhood sounds weekly.
6. Take several short car rides per week.
7. Take your dog to your Vet to receive treats biweekly.
8. Walk around your neighborhood weekly.
9. Take your dog to your groomer for treats biweekly.

I know this sounds like a lot of work but it is so important in the development of your dog. Actually everyone loves a puppy so if you take your dog on some of your errands you will be surprised at how many people will want to see and pet your dog.

I took my puppy to my local grocery store and asked people to pet my dog because she was in training, I had no problem getting volunteers. Another place that will usually welcome dogs is Home Depot or Lowe's. I also took my puppy to the ice cream pallor which had outside sitting and lots of children and adults willing to pet a puppy. As you see if you’re a little bit creative it can be very easy and fun to socialize your puppy. It will be worth the effort because you got a puppy to be your companion and a great companion it will be for the next 10-15 years.

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