Happy & Healthy Pets -- Socialization, Enrichment & Exercies Since socialization includes so many different portions of a dog’s development, here are some of the major areas in which a dog should advance throughout the first few months of their lives. Socialization can be: Interaction with you, your family, and other people Interaction with other dogs and animals Introduction and exposure to new experiences, such as going on walks with a leash, getting in and out of vehicles, and loud noises Introduction to new places, such as dog parks, other peoples’ homes, and the veterinarian’s office Being around and interacting with children Reducing fear Teaching about appropriate and inappropriate responses to stimuli in environment Housebreaking Here’s what to do. Take your puppy places--by car, in your arms, or in a child’s wagon if she’s too heavy to carry. Take her to a mall, to a hardware store, to the bus station, to a train station, on a train if possible. Take her to a gas station, auto body shop, florist. Step into the vet’s waiting room and out again. Visit a park, farm, construction site, police station. Encourage her to scramble among rocks and logs. Let her experience many surfaces underfoot, from grass to concrete to leaves to metal gratings. Teach her to use stairs, starting from the lowest step and working your way up till she can navigate a whole staircase comfortably, up and down. Steps for Owners to Take to Facilitate Socialization You are the most important person in your dog’s life, and they will be learning about their environment from you. It is a large task to introduce your pet to the world, but the results will definitely outweigh the amount of work and dedication that go into raising a well-rounded dog. Although the temperaments and amount of time it can take to socialize dogs varies, all pets can benefit from the following suggestions. Let your dog know that YOU are in control. Dogs are pack animals and need to know where they fit in the hierarchy of things. Let your dog know that you are the “alpha” in the household. This is extremely important, as it teaches your dog that you are the leader and you will protect them, which, ultimately, increases their sense of security and safety. Start slow and be patient! Your dog will not learn everything they need to know about the world in the first few weeks of their lives, let alone the first few years. You do not want to overwhelm them, which may scare them and instill a general sense of fear with the environment. It is best to take small steps to introduce your puppy to the world. Ensure dog is used to being handled and touched. While your puppy is still young, pick them up, gently move them into several positions, roll them around on the floor, stick your fingers in their mouth, and inspect their bodies. Not only does this familiarize your puppy with being touched, it also encourages trust. Get others involved in the socialization process. Unless you plan on never bringing your dog into contact with others, you will have to introduce your dog to other people and other animals as early as possible. Invite people into your home to meet the dog, which lets your pet know that visitors are welcome. Ask visitors to bring their friendly and well-socialized dogs so that your pet can learn by example. Involve all family members in your pet’s development so that your dog becomes used to interacting with everyone in the household. Clearly explain your expectations to all parties involved in the socialization process to ensure that everyone is reinforcing the same behaviors. You do not want to confuse your dog, so consistency is key! Reward dog when they do something right. Always remember to reward and praise your dog when they exhibit positive behaviors, which will increase the behaviors that you want to see. Keep in mind that your dog craves attention and will increase the behaviors that produce the most positive attention. If you catch your dog doing something you want to see, reward them with a treat, a good scratch behind the ears, or a few minutes of play time. This will increase the likelihood that the behavior will happen again. Remember that your dog enjoys pleasing you! Do not hit your dog. If your dog exhibits behaviors that you do not want to see, do not punish them by hitting or chasing them. This only instills fear in your dog, which can lead to future aggression. Instead, use brief signals and sounds like “grunts” “no” or “uh uh” to get your dog’s attention, and then redirect the behavior to something more acceptable or remove the dog from the situation. For instance, if you catch your dog chewing a piece of furniture, say “no,” and then bring your dog a toy to chew instead. Redirecting behaviors will show your dog what you do want rather than what you do not want. Spay/Neuter your dog. Spaying female dogs typically reduces their tendency to roam and look for a mate, which decreases their chances of experiencing trauma, such as getting hit by a car, as well as reducing their chances of catching infectious diseases. Neutering male dogs reduces their tendency to act aggressively and mark their territory. In addition, both provide the benefit of restricting your pet to its trained boundaries. So often, the way a dog responds to environmental stimuli is a product of owner training and management, or lack thereof. No matter when you adopt your dog, you can apply canine socialization principles to help him or her be a more stable, happy, trustworthy companion. Socialization does not end at puppyhood. While the foundation for good behavior is laid during the first few months, good owners encourage and reinforce social skills and responsiveness to commands throughout the dogs life Creature Comforts takes pride in partnering with you to ensure that your pets are happy and healthy. An integral part of our services is socialization, enrichment, and exercise. I encourage you to consider putting a socialization program in place for your pets. To learn more about how Creature Comforts can help contribute to your pets being healthy and happy, please contact me to schedule a free initial consultation. May every day be filled with Creature Comforts! Warmly, Paul Paul F. Flotron Creature Comforts Great & Small, LLC Giving your creatures the comfort they deserve CreatureComfortsGreatnSmall 314-200-8561 Cell: 314-775-7107
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 18:12:01 +0000
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