Socialization

Allowing your puppy to get used to a wide variety of people, objects, places and animals is important to their development!

Let your puppy have positive experiences with people of different gender, size, shape and ethnicity. This includes exposing them to different accessories on humans, such as hats, men with bears/mustaches, scarves, sunglasses...even things like curly vs straight hair can make a difference!

Taking them for a walk around the neighborhood (after your veterinarian says its safe to do so!) to meet people, see other pets and hear the sounds of the outdoors is beneficial for their development as well.

Make sure they are exposed to different objects in varying positions. Do you iron clothes for work? Ironing boards aren't scary to us, but can be for a pet who hasn't had exposure to them! Let them see the board while it's folded, unfolded, hanging, standing up, etc. This can be said for any inanimate object that may change positions in your home, a reclining chair, a ladder that you use frequently, the garage door.

New experiences can be scary for your puppy, but they don't have to be!