Dog blog
Five socialization games for puppies
Puppies are like sponges, especially in the first five months of life, when they soak up everything new, forming habits and their own personality. It is therefore a good idea to give them as much time as possible during this period and to teach them everything they need to grow into a confident, socialized life partner with good manners. Try these five socialisation games that will help your puppy fit in seamlessly with (not only) canine society.
Puppies are like sponges, especially in the first five months of life, when they soak up everything new, forming habits and their own personality. It is therefore a good idea to give them as much time as possible during this period and to teach them everything they need to grow into a confident, socialized life partner with good manners. Try these five socialisation games that will help your puppy fit in seamlessly with (not only) canine society.
1. Meeting people
Since no one can resist the cuteness of a puppy, this training will be a breeze. Introduce the dog to as many people as possible. The more people he meets in his puppyhood, the less likely he is to be afraid of them as an adult. Meet different ages, people in uniform, children. Ask them to give the dog a treat. Almost no dog can resist that. But if it does happen and the dog is reluctant to make contact, don't force him. Never give him to someone he is downright afraid of, you will probably increase his fear. Instead, let the person throw toys or treats to the dog from a greater distance and let the puppy proceed at his own pace.
2. Socialization circle
Ask two or more friends to join the game with you. Together, form a circle and place the doggie in the middle. The first person will start calling out in a friendly and cheerful voice "Alík, come here" and if the puppy obeys he will get a treat and praise. Then it's the next person's turn and they do the same as the first person. The moment the dog's play is going well, you can make the circle bigger so that the dog has to run a greater distance to you. Again, if your furry buddy is not comfortable and doesn't want to go to strangers, don't force him and proceed more slowly.
3. Playing with sounds
Many puppies are afraid of unfamiliar sounds. There's nothing easier than introducing him to them. How to do it? Start with a hair dryer, for example. In the beginning, stay away from the dog, only run the machine for a short while and then turn it off again. Judge your dog's reaction and proceed accordingly. Is the dog curious about where the sound is coming from, or is he afraid? If he is afraid, reduce the intensity of the noise or move further away from him. As soon as he gets used to the sound, start moving closer to him. Eventually, he won't even pay attention to the sound.
There certainly will be times when an unfamiliar noise comes unexpectedly and the dog gets scared. It could be a thunderstorm or clapping. In these cases, try to bring him to other thoughts and dispel the fright as quickly as possible.
4. A collar? No problem!
Sometimes you'll find that your dog will eat something he shouldn't or go where he shouldn't and you'll have to quickly grab him by the collar. This game will serve to make sure that he has no problem with it, does not avoid grabbing the collar or even does not react aggressively. Start playing with him and every once in a while, gently grab his collar and call out "gotcha" cheerfully and as part of the game. If this doesn't upset the dog, reward him with a treat and continue the game. You can repeat this step several times and practice the collar game regularly.
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5. What's yours is mine
Take a toy suitable for tug-of-war. Put one end in the doggie’s mouth and hold the other end. While you do this, praise him so he knows there is nothing wrong with touching his toys. This will prevent possessive behavior, where the furry buddy would often aggressively defend his toys.
