Daily walks
Walks are the most exciting part of a dog or puppy’s day. When you take your puppy for a walk in public, he will start to become familiar with the world and so many people that are walking past him. The sound of cranes at the construction site and honking from cars become a little less scary for the pup when he looks at these things and sees it’s normal.
If a kind passer-by wants to pat your pup, by all means, let them knock themselves out. If possible, choose a different route for your walks every week so the pup gets to meet new people and is exposed to a variety of smells and sights.
Puppy classes
When the pup has received the required vaccinations, you can bring him to puppy classes. Not only are puppy classes great for teaching him basic commands, but they also offer the added advantage of exposing them to other humans and dogs. This will also provide a much safer environment where the interactions between pups will be monitored by skilled trainers.
Slow and steady
The easiest way to socialize your dog is to take things slowly. Imagine you, an introvert, is being forced to attend a college party. Overwhelmed and intimidated would be the first two things you'd feel at that party. Your dog feels the same way. Most people just drag their doggo straight to the local park. While some dogs take to this well, there's a chance that your pup might not like that too much. It's best to ease your dog into social interaction. Start off by introducing them to the neighbor's dog. Let them play around a bit and get comfortable. Do it with a few different neighbors until your dog is welcoming of the idea of meeting new people. If you think that the puppy is ready, only then take them to a dog park.
Take it slow
You can’t give your pup a crash course on socialization. Start with your family members first. Let him get comfortable around people who frequently visit your house. Only then, start to introduce him to 1 stranger at a time. Have him meet the next stranger only once he is comfortable with the first one. Bringing your pup to a public place or a party for play-time is going to scare him, and only slow down the whole process.
Use treats
It’s important that you positively reinforce the puppy when he is introduced to new experiences. You want your puppy to associate new experiences with something good, which is getting treats. If your pup barks at other dogs or puppies, use a firm voice and say ‘NO’, and try to distract him from the situation. If your pup does not bark the next time (or the time after), give him a treat and lots of praises. Also, don’t be nervous when you introduce your pup to another dog or even a human. Dogs are good at reading human emotions and will try to imitate them.
