Socializing your puppy at an early age is vital to his future well-being. How well he handles the stress created by new people, sights, sounds, animals, and other variations in his environment are determined by the first several weeks of his life. Early life experiences, as well as your puppy's individual temperament, help determine whether your pet grows up to be distrustful and prone to aggression, or a happy-go-lucky dog who is friends with everybody.http://dogtime.com/socializing-your-puppy-aspca.html

Puppies who are raised in isolation, where they are cared for only by the human who feeds them and aren’t exposed to the noises of daily life, are more likely to become timid and fearful and react aggressively to stressful situations. The earlier your puppy is exposed to a variety of new experiences, the more likely he is to accept them.

Spend lots of time with your puppy so he forms a strong emotional bond with you. Your puppy will look to you for guidance and direction, and training your puppy at an early age to accept new things and to have good manners is the first step toward raising a dog who is self-confident, polite to strangers and other pets, and is generally welcome where ever he goes with you. This guide will teach you how to socialize your puppy.

Just like us humans, dogs have individual personalities; some are naturally timid while others are friendlier and more outgoing. You can easily tell a puppy’s basic nature while he’s still with his litter: The gregarious puppies will run up to you eagerly and attack your shoestrings, while the timid puppies will shy away and resist being held.

Reputable breeders begin socializing their puppies while they are still in a litter. At about three weeks of age, a breeder who truly cares about his dogs will begin handling the puppies and socializing them to new experiences. Avoid pet store puppies, who often come from puppy mills and receive little contact with humans or exposure to the outside world. Puppies who reach 16 weeks of age without being subjected to a variety of new people, sights and sounds will be very difficult to socialize properly afterward.http://www.canismajor.com/dog/sochow2.html

Choosing a puppy who is not timid by nature makes socializing your puppy easier, but if that shy little darling captures your heart, all is not lost. Your dog may learn to accept family members, the veterinarian and dog groomer, or other people he comes to know well, but he may exhibit behavior problems that need dealt with or refuse to let strangers pet him.http://www.canismajor.com/dog/sochow2.html

When you bring a puppy into your home, he may not be used to the normal sounds of a household. Noisy children, ringing phones, slamming doors, oven timers, loud TV shows and other household noise pollution may be foreign to him. Follow your usual household routine, and ignore his reaction to the noise. Dogs look to their leader for reassurance, so if you console him when he’s startled, his dog brain will think there was something to be startled about. Act like nothing’s wrong, and he’ll come to understand that the household noise is normal and nothing to fear.

Offering your puppy a small reward can encourage him to accept new experiences with grace. Give him a yummy treat when the mailman comes to the door or when repairmen come to work in or around your house, and he’ll soon learn to look forward to their visits! http://www.canismajor.com/dog/sochow2.html

Walk your puppy regularly so he can see and hear cars whizzing by, sirens screaming, crying babies being pushed in strollers, other pets being walked, and other sights and sounds of community life. Walk a variety of different routes so he doesn’t become used to the sights and sounds that he encounters regularly, yet remains fearful of new things.http://www.canismajor.com/dog/sochow2.html

Teach your puppy to accept new people and strange pets by asking friends to drop by your home or bring their own dogs over for a visit. Take your puppy to dog parks and pet shops where dogs are allowed so he gets used to being in noisy, crowded public places. Enrolling your puppy in basic obedience classes at an early age is an excellent way to socialize your puppy while teaching him good manners.

Puppies are curious creatures and love to have fun, but his socialization training shouldn’t end as he matures into an adult dog. A well-socialized puppy may revert back to timidity and shyness if he does not continue to have new experiences throughout his life.http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_SocializationAdultDog.php

Continue to visit dog parks, friends homes (with permission, of course), pet stores, and other places dogs are allowed. Enroll him in advanced obedience classes to reinforce his basic obedience training, and where he can build relationships with other dogs and their owners. Ask trustworthy neighbor kids to take your dog for walks or {{How to Play Game with your Dog|play with him]], so your dog continues to accept and endure the attention of strange, sometimes rowdy, children.

A dog who is well-socialized as a puppy and whose socialization continues throughout his adult life will be less anxious when confronted by new people, unusual sights and sounds, and other pets. Your dog will exhibit fewer behavior problems, will be more trustworthy around strange people and pets, and will be a better family companion. http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_SocializationAdultDog.php