Did you know that puppy-hood is the most important time of any dog's life. Up until 12 weeks a puppy's brain is wired to accept new people, animals, and environments. During this time you should socialize your puppy to new people an animals daily. I recommend introducing your puppy to 5 new people every day and 1 new, friendly dog every day.
Especially seek out anyone who your puppy may perceive as "different". For example, make sure you introduce your puppy to a Poodle in full clip or a terrier whose eyes are covered by hair. Make sure to introduce your puppy to an Bulldog or Pekingese so that your puppy can experience dogs who has flat faces. For people, seek out kids of various ages (toddlers are different than teenagers or elementary school students). Elderly people with walkers and wheelchairs can also be challenging for puppies.
Finally, enroll in a good puppy class. This class will help to expose your puppy to a wide variety of people and puppies on a regular basis. If you live in or near Kensington, come visit ours! http://www.gooddogdc.com/puppy-classes
If you have any questions or anything you want to share, please do so in the comments! I'm always looking for new socialization ideas!
Best,
Michelle
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