In many ways our pets act like we do. They can get sick, be moody, and in some cases, be anti-social. It is extremely important that we give our puppies the proper amount of exposure to other dogs. Early in a dogs life they go through a stage that will forever imprint on them what is acceptable behavior. I feel that time is between the 8-14 week stage and is vital to a puppies temperament going forward. The things a puppy experiences over that period will teach it how to react to similar situations going forward. For instance, when your puppy is introduced to another dog, your reaction is as important as the puppies because they feed off of you emotions, even at a very early age. It is also vital that you have these experiences take place in a controlled environment. An example is, if you take your new friend to a dog park with much larger, aggressive dogs present, and he has a bad experience, he may become fearful and aggressive towards other dogs. Making sure that your puppy has the right amount of stimuli in the early development stage is a huge key to avoiding future aggressive behavior. If you can’t show your pet that you are in control (Alpha) and can protect the pack, then the animal will naturally attempt to do so. Here are some other things to avoid.

• Do not intoduce your puppy to a large group of dogs at a young age.
• Do not have negative reactions to other people, dogs, or places, because your puppy will do the same.
• Try to stay away from dog parks at a young age, it is uncontrolled and there may be aggressive or sick dogs there.

Socializing your puppy is a part of training, so you should react accordingly when he/she does a good job. Reward them with praise, treats, and play for doing a good job. It is just like teaching the sit command, you want your puppy to know that it did well, and if you react in a positive way, it helps ensure repeated success in those situations.

As your dog gets older, the need for socialization doesn’t stop. Take frequent trips to you local dog park, walks through your neighborhood, and trips to the pet store. These things all help your growing pet to stay a social butterfly and keep them from changing behavior patterns on you. Thanks for stopping by!