Additional Socialization for SDiT Puppies

There are alot of things to consider when preparing a pup for service dog training. In other posts I've shared info about socialization for all the senses and my socialization checklist.  So for this one I'm going to focus on puppy visits to public places.

First and foremost, safety first!  At this stage you can only visit pet friendly places.  However your young puppy doesn't have all their vaccines so it's not safe to be in areas that have been frequented by unknown dogs.

There are plenty of pet friendly places you can visit.  Besides pet stores and farm stores that are visited by lots of dogs, there are also hardware stores, craft stores and many places that don't sell food.  There are also tons of outdoor places you can visit including parks, hiking trail entrances and various parking lots.  You can get tons of socialization by spending 5-10 minutes hanging out in your car near busy stores.   schools, playgrounds, etc.   Even running through a drive thru can help your pup see friendly people without being touched, sniff a wide variety of smells, hear intercoms & traffic.  Bank drive thru's offer additional stimulation.  The options are unending!

In everything you do, keep safety in mind.  Carry the pup thru pet friendly locations to avoid contact with surfaces that are unsafe.  Carrying the puppy also helps them to feel safe and relaxed with you which can help strengthen your bond.  Keep exposures to new things short and positive, 5-10 minutes is all it takes.  Pair experiences with good things; treats, toys, encouraging or loving speaking. 

Be your pup's advocate!  You get to decide who pets your pup and when.  It's important to meet lots of different types of people, all ages and abilities!  I like to start with calm, happy people, then as the pup gets more comfortable, slowly increase the excitement level in people as you continue to encourage your pup to remain calm.  For example: Azul loves kids, girls are his favorite and make him most excitable.  So if a girl is calm and wants to say hi, I'm more likely to say yes.  But if a girl is a more energetic, squealing Puppy!” I'm more likely to say no.  When you're in any public spot, puppies are sure to draw attention!  Be prepared for that!

Avoid pet stores, dog parks, and other places frequently visited by strange dogs.

At home, provide your puppy a safe place to relax.  This could be a crate, puppy pen, or other contained location.  Keep other dogs, children, etc.  Out of the safe place while the pup is relaxing.  Read my Puppy Relaxation Protocol to learn about helping puppies calm down.

Depending on the breed, your pup's critical socialization period will end somewhere between 12 to 14 weeks.  That doesn't mean you can't expose them to new things after that age.  What that does mean is that new things have a greater potential to be scary to the pup that is older.  That's why it is best to let your pup experience as much as possible before 14 wks of age, always keeping safety in mind.  All socialization experiences should be positive and happy for your puppy!