Puppies. Irresistible. Absolutely wonderful.
And oh so needy! Did you know that…
…puppies need to be pleasantly introduced to as many different:
- people
- locations
- noises
- surfaces
- other dogs
- vehicles
- situations
- the list goes on and on…
And the real shocker: this needs to be done between the age of 8 and 16 weeks! Which means if you get your pup at 8 weeks old, you have only 8 weeks to show your pup that the world is a friendly, welcoming place. Zoinks, that's a lot of pressure on you!
Ideally, your pup is experiencing new things and meeting new people every day. The same neighborhood and friends don't count — they need to see different stuff every single day. And in a friendly, relaxed manner.
Without this socialization, your pup runs the very real risk of becoming shy, fearful, growly, skittish, even downright unfriendly.
I will be writing a lot more about puppies, what they need, and how you can provide it to them in the next few months here on the Smart Dog Blog. If you have specific questions about puppies and puppyhood, please leave them in the Comments secction!
I can’t get a dog yet (moving abroad) but when I do, it’s going to be an ex-racer greyhound. I picked them on the basis of health and temperament, and also because I want to skip the puppy stage while I’m still in school.
Racing greyhounds have met many people throughout their lives- trainers, staff, breeders, owners, etc- but you have to start from scratch to teach them about the outside world. Do you have any tips for working with older dogs?
Yes, definitely clicker training for the older dogs. They can learn — and fast! — especially when using the clicker. Assume they know nothing and teach them everything they need to know. Consistency from the minute they walk through your door is the way to go. Good luck with your Grey when you get him (or her)!