Friday, November 30, 2007
Don't Let Your Dog Be Antisocial
Just like every newborn animal, including human babies, dogs have to be introduced to all of the new things in the world so that they can grow up to be agreeable, fun pets. You cannot simply pick up a few puppies for sale and expect them to grow into socialized, fearless, and agreeable pets having never interacted with other humans or animals. Neglecting to teach your pet about other people and animals can result in a very anxious, fearful, or even mean dog personality. That is why socialization is a key factor in taking care of a dog, both for the wellbeing of your dog as well as the safety of others.
Again, similar to newborn babies, the first few months of a puppy’s life are extremely fundamental for emotional, instinctual, and social development. That is why it is very important to begin socializing your puppy as soon as you get him. It is a good idea to begin by some simply, quiet, individual interaction, just you and your dog. Then experiment by adding more people and noises into the mix. Invite friends, relatives, and their pets to come play with the new puppy so that your dog becomes accustomed to meeting knew pets and animals.
However, before any socializing occurs, it is very important to make sure your puppy has been vaccinated and healthy. Make sure you are making regular visits to the vet and following all of the veterinary recommendations in terms of shots. Disease spreads very easily among K-9’s, and no amount of socialization is worth serious illness. Once your puppies or even older dogs have the proper protection it is time to take them outside on walks as much as possible. The more they see new things and experience the world, the less likely they will be afraid. You should also exercise some caution as to what areas you take your pet for walks. Some places are at high risk for disease due to other stray animals or chemical pollution, so it is a good idea to ask your vet what areas they recommend for giving your dog regular exercise.
A great way to positively reinforce your dog when meeting new friends is to reward him with a treat as consistently as possible. This will associate food and praise with new people or animals, thus ridding them of fear. Also try to make certain that your dog meets a variety of people. If he only encounters people that are similar to you in age, race, and appearances, then someone that does not fit this mold may cause some alarm. Strangely enough, some dogs have definite racial bias because they are never around people of differing skin color. This goes the same for children. Dogs that are not around children can easily become fearful of this miniature people that like to pull ears and poke eyeballs, and many dogs react violently out of fear.
Socialization is not a difficult part of raising puppies, but it does take a conscious effort. It is very easy to go along and forget to introduce your pet to others until one day a new friend comes over, or maybe you bring home another dog. Conscious socializing can be the difference between fun playtime and an all out fight, so take the time to teach your puppy about the world.
About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of puppies for sale. You can easily adopt a pet that will make an excellent additions to the family. For more information, please visit MyDreamPuppy.com.
Again, similar to newborn babies, the first few months of a puppy’s life are extremely fundamental for emotional, instinctual, and social development. That is why it is very important to begin socializing your puppy as soon as you get him. It is a good idea to begin by some simply, quiet, individual interaction, just you and your dog. Then experiment by adding more people and noises into the mix. Invite friends, relatives, and their pets to come play with the new puppy so that your dog becomes accustomed to meeting knew pets and animals.
However, before any socializing occurs, it is very important to make sure your puppy has been vaccinated and healthy. Make sure you are making regular visits to the vet and following all of the veterinary recommendations in terms of shots. Disease spreads very easily among K-9’s, and no amount of socialization is worth serious illness. Once your puppies or even older dogs have the proper protection it is time to take them outside on walks as much as possible. The more they see new things and experience the world, the less likely they will be afraid. You should also exercise some caution as to what areas you take your pet for walks. Some places are at high risk for disease due to other stray animals or chemical pollution, so it is a good idea to ask your vet what areas they recommend for giving your dog regular exercise.
A great way to positively reinforce your dog when meeting new friends is to reward him with a treat as consistently as possible. This will associate food and praise with new people or animals, thus ridding them of fear. Also try to make certain that your dog meets a variety of people. If he only encounters people that are similar to you in age, race, and appearances, then someone that does not fit this mold may cause some alarm. Strangely enough, some dogs have definite racial bias because they are never around people of differing skin color. This goes the same for children. Dogs that are not around children can easily become fearful of this miniature people that like to pull ears and poke eyeballs, and many dogs react violently out of fear.
Socialization is not a difficult part of raising puppies, but it does take a conscious effort. It is very easy to go along and forget to introduce your pet to others until one day a new friend comes over, or maybe you bring home another dog. Conscious socializing can be the difference between fun playtime and an all out fight, so take the time to teach your puppy about the world.
About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of puppies for sale. You can easily adopt a pet that will make an excellent additions to the family. For more information, please visit MyDreamPuppy.com.
Labels: adopt a pet, dog socializaiton, pet socialization, puppies for sale
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]