Puppy Socialization in Saint Johns and Jacksonville FL

Have you ever seen a dog that was afraid of every little thing – children playing, water running, even leaves blowing down the street? That dog wasn’t born with all those fears. In fact, when puppies come into this world, they are generally able to naturally accept a wide range of new experiences if they are positively introduced to them through puppy socialization. Early introductions to people of all colors and places, animals, sounds and smells of all kinds are imperative to raising a well-adjusted dog. At Bluestar Pet Hospital & Grooming, we want to help you be the best puppy parent you can be with these tips for puppy socialization in Saint Johns and Jacksonville FL.

Puppy Training for Socialization

Begin puppy training for socialization as early as possible. Your puppy has a short window of opportunity to easily accept new experiences as good experiences. This is called the “sensitive period” and generally lasts until 12 weeks. Most dogs start to become weary of new experiences after this time, and once a dog passes his 18 week birthday, socialization becomes difficult. While you can teach an old dog new trick, it can be impossible to teach an 18-week-old pup to learn to like something that is strange or frightening at first glance.

Puppy Socialization Classes in Saint Johns and Jacksonville

Once your canine pal has had her first set of shots and had one round of deworming, she can begin puppy socialization classes in Saint Johns and Jacksonville. In addition to being led by professionals who are able to provide guidance, puppy socialization classes in Saint Johns and Jacksonville provide are a safe option for dogs that are too young to be fully vaccinated against diseases they would be exposed to at dog parks.

Puppy Socialization Guidelines

While you want to introduce your dog to the big world outside your home, you never want to push your dog into an uncomfortable environment. If you have a more outgoing puppy, sit outside a busy store so he can observe and go up to the strangers as he likes. For a shy dog, sit farther away and offer treats and soft words of praise when he starts to explore. It’s natural for a puppy to start to approach someone and then back away. Don’t force the interaction or use treats to lure. Offer praise for approaching but let your puppy decide if he wants to say hello. As you continue to take your puppy with you to new places with new people and sounds, he will gain confidence and see the outside world as a positive place.