Socialising your new “best friend” is an important part of
creating a close bond and a happy stress-free dog. This is a starting point for
ideas of things your puppy should safely experience with you. Adapt it to suit
the needs of you and your dog including any other potentially scary events. Try
to let your puppy encounter as many of the things on this list as you can
before the age of 16 weeks. Continue to repeat these interactions at least monthly
until a year old.
PLACES TO GO
o
Veterinary
Practice!
o
Groomers
o
Friend’s
houses
o
Pubs/cafes
o
Schools/playgrounds
o
Shows/fairs
o
Roadside
o
Public
transport
o
Parks
o
Rural
areas
o
Town
centre
ANIMALS TO MEET
o
Other
friendly dogs (small and large breeds)
o
Cats
o
Small
domestic pets
o
Livestock
o
Horses
(with and without riders)
ACTIVITIES TO ACCEPT
o
Walking
on a lead/harness/headcollar
o
Grooming/bathing
o
Examination
of mouth, ears, eyes and feet
o
Tableting
o
Being
left alone
o
Nail
clipping
THINGS TO ENCOUNTER
o
Vacuums/brooms/mops
o
Washing
machine and tumble dryer
o
Dishwasher
o
Hair
dryer
o
Power
tools
o
Lawn
mower
o
Vehicles
(cars, lorries, bikes)
o
Children’s
toys
o
Pushchairs
o
Sirens
o
Bangs
(fireworks/gunshots)
PEOPLE TO MEET
o
Men
and women
o
Children
and babies
o
Elderly
people
o
People
with walking sticks, frames, wheelchairs etc
o
Confident/loud
people
o
Shy/quiet
people
o
Delivery
people/postman or woman
o
People
with hats and headgear
o
People
with sunglasses
o
People
with beards
o
People
on bikes/scooters/ skateboards
o
People
pushing prams
o
Joggers
o
People
who differ significantly in appearance to family members
o
People
in uniform