Socialization Dog

Keywords:
Adopt, abuse, social, socialize, mature, personality, positive reinforcement, punishment, new, prevent, fear, aggression, puppy class, training, stress

Socialization Dog

Socialization Dog

It's not uncommon for me to hear the words `oh doctor, this dog and it must have been abused by its previous owners. It is such a fearful dog.` My years of experience as a companion animal veterinarian have shown me that thankfully cases of abuse are less frequent than instances of improper puppy socialization.

It is never too late to socialize your dog but the optimal time is between the ages of 3 to 14 weeks of age. Every dog matures at their own rate, but studies have shown that it is during this critical time that you have the best chance of shaping the personality of your puppy into the adult dog you want.

There are two basic methods of training your puppy, positive reinforcement or punishment based. Punishment based training can make your dog fearful and defensive. A positive approach teaches what is pleasing to you and results in a constructive human/animal bond.

The rule of thumb that every new puppy owner should live by, especially when your pup has just destroyed your favorite pair of shoes or soiled the carpet for the umpteenth time is `reward what you want and ignore or prevent what you don't. '

Pets are often leery of unfamiliar or novel stimuli such as people of different ages, sizes or ethnic origins. Even unfamiliar clothing, like a uniform worn by postal carrier or the ups man can make a dog wary. Places, sounds, inanimate objects like a vacuum cleaner and even other animals can also evoke panic.

What can you do to avoid causing terror in your terrier? Expose your young dog to as many different stimuli as you can. Do so in a controlled, cautious and gradual fashion. You don't want to overwhelm your dog and cause an aversion. If your pup does become fearful, stop the session and start again at a slower pace.

Concerned that you may expose your pup to illness or just don't have the time to get your dog out for a meet and greet? Well, thanks to modern technology you can purchase DVDs that can bring the world to your pup in the comfort of your living room.

One of the best investments of time and money is the enrollment of your new family member in puppy classes. These courses are not just for the sake of your canine companion but also for you. They provide training advice and enable your pup to interact with a host of different dogs and people. Puppy kindergarten is also a marvelous venue in which to obtain pointers on behavioral issues.

Did you know that the number one reason why dogs are relinquished to an animal shelter by their owners is for behavioral issues? So you can see why it is so important to start your puppy off on the right paw.

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