SOCIALIZATION TIPS FOR PUPPIES FROM NOBLE BEAST DOG TRAINING
Mindy Jarvis • December 27, 2023
Puppies, like babies, playfully explore the world around them, discovering what is normal. During this time in a dog’s life, it’s important to expose a dog to a variety of stimuli so that they learn to accept the world as safe.
When a dog isn’t exposed to a variety of sights, sounds, smells and experiences as a puppy, as they grow older and encounter new people, places, and things, they can become fearful and/or anxious which often leads to reactivity.
Because of this, Noble Beast believes that puppy socialization is an essential part of raising a dog, and not just any socialization, but socialization in a safe environment (see more on that below). This is why we offer Puppy Socialization classes with our certified trainers every weekend.
Socialization Tips for Puppies from Noble Beast Dog Training!
- Noble Beast Dog Trainer Harrie Kukowski says it’s important to get your pup use to a lot of different things when they’re young, including DOGS AND PEOPLE. But she also stresses that it’s equally as important to do so in a safe environment. She suggests avoiding the dog park and taking your dog to a puppy social event (like Playful Pup) where vaccines are required and where trainers are available to answer any questions that you have.
- According to Noble Beast Dog Trainer Bex Smith, socialization doesn’t just mean giving your puppy social time with other dogs. That’s only a piece of the puzzle. It also means exposing your puppy to all sorts of different things that she may encounter throughout her life. But she warns that exposure alone isn’t enough. You also need to make sure your puppy is having an enjoyable experience, or at least a neutral one. Forcing a dog to confront things before she’s ready could end up causing fears rather than alleviating them.
- When your dog isn’t sure about something, Noble Beast Owner Mindy Jarvis recommends giving him some space to help reduce his stress levels. You can use this space to help get your dog more acquainted to the object or person he is unsure of. She recommends finding an appropriate distance, and then working on fun tricks or obedience cues. You can also imply play an engaging game with him. Soon your pup will realize it isn’t so bad after all.
Do you have questions about puppy socialization? We invite you to join us at one of our Noble Beast Puppy Socialization classes! Our trainers are there to help supervise, as well as to answer any questions that you may have. You can register your puppy by emailing Info@noblebeastdogtraining.com or click here for more information.
Understanding and Addressing Resource Guarding in Dogs: A Comprehensive Guide
Your teaching style WILL affect your dogs ability to learn
Keeping Your Furry Family Safe when there is an emergency!
Want to check out beautiful Colorado with your dog?
The four most important things to guarantee success for you and your pup are SUPERVISION, ROUTINE, LIMITED FREEDOM, and PRAISE (NOT PUNISHMENT). You have to remember that your puppy is still a baby after all and as with all babies, potty training takes time. When your puppy arrives at your house, he doesn’t understand the difference between what we think is good and bad behavior. As far as your puppy is concerned, the carpet is the same as the grass outside other than the fact that it is warmer, cleaner, and more comfortable. This is where supervision and routine come into play.
When bringing home a puppy, or any dog for that matter, it’s good to be prepared. Puppies require a lot of time and attention, so making unplanned trips to the store to pick up needed supplies can make the experience stressful.
But that’s why we’re here to help. Below you’ll find a new puppy shopping list, to hopefully ensure that you have everything you need before you bring puppy home!
One of the main goals of the Noble Beast Dog Training Team is to introduce and educate folks on the science of dog training and dog behavior as we are very passionate about positive relationship-focused training, and ALWAYS work in the best interest of the dog/human relationship.
Although dog training has come a long way from the traditional punishment-based methods established decades ago, to this day, I still meet dog owners, vets, and even trainers who have the impression that there is no harm in using choke, prong, and electric collars “if used properly”. Well, I have met many dogs who would disagree and I can promise you, whether you use these tools “properly” or not, the discomfort of these training tools is not a positive for any dog.
Your dog is first and foremost a dog – he will bark, he will chew, he will dig, he will use his mouth to grab, bite, and explore, he will get wildly distracted, he will learn some things fast and some will take a bit longer to get down. He is an individual – a product of his DNA, what happened in the womb, what happened in his litter, and what happened after his litter – no two dogs are alike, even if from the same litter. He is a living thinking, thoughtful, decision making creature living in the now by doing what is most interesting at that particular moment, and there will be many times that other things in life will be much more interesting to pay attention to than you – especially as a teenage dog. You can’t let what your dog chooses to do upset you because you believe your dog should behave differently.
Crate training is an essential component of comprehensive dog training that can provide numerous benefits for both dogs and their owners! Training dogs to love their crate is a perfect way to foster happy and calm dogs. It involve patience, consistency and setting your dog up for success. If you follow this principle, your dog will learn to love his crate. But why is it important to get your dog to love his crate?
