Have you recently added a puppy to your family? If the answer is yes this then our puppy socialisation checklist is the perfect place to start to help with training. Aimed at helping you to you socialise your new puppy in every way possible.
New sights and sounds can be scary to a young dog but by regularly socialising them you can help your puppy learn confidence and resilience.
Dog social skills are one of the most important life skills you can teach your dog. This should start from the first day you bring them home. Daily socialisation with your dog will lead to a fully integrated member of your family who can come with you wherever you go!
Promoting Positive Experiences For Puppies
Every time you take your dog out to socialise, make sure every encounter is a positive one.
Early experiences are the foundations of who your dog will become. By showing them new experiences are fun, they will become more comfortable with the world around them.
Remember, if you see that your dog is becoming scared or worried it is important to react straight away. Remove them from the environment. Give them plenty of positive reinforcement and distract them with treats or toys. As soon as they have regained their confidence, you can always try again but there is no need to push if they are not ready.
Every dog learns at their own pace so understanding your dog’s behaviour and body language will help you to know when they have had enough. This is a great skill for any dog owner to learn.
Introductions To People, Sounds & Places
We have broken down our puppy socialisation checklist into 8 different areas of socialisation.
These 8 areas cover a whole range of topics, from the variety of people that they see to sounds and places to introduce your puppy to. The more you will do, the more you will get out of it.
8 Point Socialisation Checklist
Show Your Dog Different Types of People
Get Them Used To Sounds In Your Home
Visit Different Environments With Your Dog
Introduce Your Dog To Other Animals
Practise Walking On Different Surfaces
Show People Wearing Different Clothing
Introduce Your Dog To People In Uniform
Get Them Used To Motor Vehicles
1 – Show Your Dog Different Types of People
Your dog will see many different people in its lifetime. To make sure that they are happy and friendly towards everyone they meet, it is important you socialise them with a wide variety of people. This includes:
Seniors
Adults
Teenagers
Toddlers
Babies
Men & Women
A mix of race and ethnicity
People with beards
People with no hair
People with disabilities
2 – Get Them Used To Sounds In Your Home
Everyday sounds in the home can be quite scary to a puppy who has never heard them before…especially the loud ones. To stop them from becoming anxious and fearful, it is helpful to introduce them to each of the below sounds regularly. This can help with unwanted behaviour like excessive barking later on down the line.
Doorbell
Loud tv shows
Loud music
Smoke alarm
Vacuum cleaner
Washing machine
Kettle
Hairdryer
Phone ringing
Mopping
Deliveries
3 – Visit Different Environments With Your Dog
Socialising with your dog should be a fun part of the day. Its a time where you can explore different environments together and get some well-needed exercise. Make a plan of where to go to expose your new fluffy friend to all different types of sounds, smells and scenery. Below are some ideas:
Puppies are inquisitive little things and will probably want to say hello to every animal they meet! Ensure that this is always done in a safe way. Remember to give your dog plenty of praise and encouragement. It can be done in at home with friends and family pets as well as out on walks in the country. These animals could include:
Puppies
Friendly Older Dogs
Birds
Cats
Small pets (hamsters, gerbils)
Farm animals (Goats, sheep)
Large animals (Horses)
5 – Practise Walking On Different Surfaces
Dogs can become sensitive when walking on unfamiliar surfaces. Especially ones that move or make noise. Making an effort to introduce your puppy to all different surfaces and textures while making the interaction fun will create less stressful walks in the future for them and for you. Different surfaces could include:
Carpet
Wood
Tiles
Grass
Pavement
Slippery
Sand
Stairs
6 – Show People Wearing Different Clothing
What people wear and use can completely change the way a dog sees a person. These small things may not seem like much to us, but to your dog it is something that they do not understand. It therefore could be quite scary. Getting used to seeing people wearing items like the ones listed below can help to get them accustomed.
Hats
Sunglasses
Helmets
Costumes
PPE
Canes / Crutches
Wheelchairs
Umbrellas
Suitcases
Pushchairs
Shopping trolleys
Guide dogs
7 – Introduce Your Dog To People In Uniform
People in uniform are often there to help us but if your pup has not seen them before they may not understand. This could result in them becoming fearful if they are approached. Not ideal, especially in an emergency situation. If you see any of the below people out on your walks try and say hello to them and let your dog have a good sniff.
Police
Firefighters
Ambulance Workers
Postal Workers
Lollipop Men / Women
8 – Get Them Used To Motor Vehicles
The world is a busy place, with motor vehicles of all shapes and sizes on our roads. The sheer size and noise of some of these could make your dog bolt if scared. It may also make some dogs bark or even want to chase them. By walking your new puppy near the road in a safe way, at an early age, you are helping to deter these unwanted behaviours in their adolescence. Vehicles to consider include:
Cars
Motorbikes
Lorries
Vans
Bin Lorries
Caravans
Bicycles
Horns
Screeching Brakes
Handling & Touching Your Puppy
We also want to discuss getting your dog used to touch.
Whether you have a large labrador or a smaller shih tzu your dog needs to get used to being manhandled. It’s important not only for bonding with owners, but also for getting your pup ready for trips to the vets or dog groomers.
Below is a list of key areas to handle. By doing this regularly your dog will understand this is normal behaviour and should not have an issue with professionals later in life.
Consider printing out the above checklist. You can then make a socialisation plan and tick them off as you go. The more often you do it, the more well-rounded your dog will become.
Choose Bruce’s To Help
At Bruce’s we have a dedicated puppy day care to help you on your new journey of becoming a dog owner.
To help our new puppy owners we have created a dedicated puppy preschool. Puppies from 12 weeks old can learn how to socialise with other dogs in a safe and secure environment. This is not only helpful to your dog but also helps new dog owners with the daily care of their new pup.
Here your puppy will come into contact with a wide variety of dogs and people. Our expert carers are always on hand to make sure your dog builds its confidence in a secure and safe environment.
Each day they will take part in a variety of enrichment activities, both indoors and outdoors – allowing them to explore new sights, sounds and smells.
We are here to make sure your dog is happy and healthy and leaves us each day wagging its tail!
As well as puppy school we can also help your pup get used to dog grooming. Our grooming introduction service is a great way to get your pups first hair cut. Our expert staffs loving approach helps get your pup used to the new sights and sounds of the dog grooming salon. Suitable for puppies up to 6 months old.
What to find out more about your local Bruce’s centre?
Take a dog’s-eye-view tour around our centres, check local pricing and which areas we cover with our doggy bus home collection service and get in touch with your local Bruce’s team of dog loving experts to book your free taster session.
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