Do you know how to raise a confident puppy?
Following a puppy’s first steps is something magical. After all, you’ll be right by his side, providing cuddles and affection, while watching him discover the world and even get into mischief.
However, you have to keep in mind that these moments are also essential for the development of your pup. Many serious problems, such as separation anxiety, fear of people, or reactivity begin to show their first signs in the first few months of the dog’s life. As a responsible owner, you must be on the lookout for every sign.
In order for your puppy to become a self-confident and happy adult dog, it is necessary to nip these problems in the bud. But how can you do that? We list below some steps that you can take to help raise your puppy so that he becomes a confident adult dog!
Prioritize the Socialization Window
Dogs are very intelligent beings and therefore, they are capable of learning new things at any stage of their lives. However, as puppies, they go through a period when all their experiences have lifelong consequences.
This period is called the Socialization Window and only lasts for the first three months of your puppy’s life. Positive behaviors and associations learned during this period will carry over into adulthood, but so will negative behaviors and associations.
Therefore, the more positive or neutral experiences your puppy has during this critical Socialization Window, the more confident he will be as an adult.
Read more: Is It Too Late to Socialize my Dog?
Introduce Your Puppy to New People
You, as a responsible owner, need to get your dog to socialize with other people. Especially in the first few weeks you bring him home. This will make sure your puppy doesn’t fear anyone when he grows up.
Try to get your puppy to take the initiative and approach strangers, not the other way around. This will allow him to socialize at his own pace. And thus, be less likely to develop any traumas that could lead to reactivity or fear of people.
A good tip is to always ask visitors to praise him, offer him snacks, give him space if needed, and make this experience as pleasant as possible. This can help ensure that he always associates meeting new people with something positive or neutral.
Read More: The Best Way to Socialize a Puppy
Socialize Your Puppy with Other Animals
A self-assured dog knows how to socialize with humans as well as with other dogs and even with other animals. That’s why it’s important for him to meet all kinds of animals, whether big, small, furry, hairless, among others.
It’s important to ensure that all interactions – particularly during the critical Socialization Window – are positive or neutral. To avoid any kind of problem, be sure to supervise interactions between your dog and the other animal.
Avoid very outgoing dogs and do not let them bully your puppy. But keep in mind that it is normal for adult dogs to put very unruly puppies back in their place via a physical or verbal correction. Just be mindful of the adult dogs that you allow your puppy to socialize with.
This is also true for other animals such as cats, rabbits, and other pets. If your puppy will eventually be living in the countryside, or even visiting the countryside, it is also important to have these early interactions with farm animals such as horses, goats, or chickens.
Read more: How to Introduce a New Dog to Your Current Dog?
Teach Your Puppy to Be Alone
In the first few days, it’s normal to want to spend most of your time with your new puppy. However, it’s extremely important that you teach him to be alone.
In this way, in addition to gaining confidence, he will know how to behave in the absence of the owners. This will help prevent problems such as separation anxiety from developing, which unfortunately is quite common in dogs.
Start by leaving your dog in an area that is safe, such as a crate or playpen. Leave your puppy in this place for short periods and gradually increase the time. Remember to always be mindful of your puppy’s bladder control and how often they should go out.
For him to associate your absence at that particular moment with something normal and positive, offer a special treat for that occasion. This will help him learn how to feel safe and comfortable being alone.
Read More: Teaching Your Puppy How to be Alone
Introduce Your Puppy to New Situations
The socialization phase of dogs goes far beyond simply the scenarios that we listed above. One of the most important things is to train your puppy so that he knows new environments, different noises, smells, and everything around him. The more potential environments and scenarios your puppy is exposed to in a positive or neutral manner, the more likely he will grow into a confident adult pup.
You must help your puppy go through as many various situations as possible in a peaceful way. Throughout the Socialization Process, allow your puppy to discover these new situations, people, and animals at a pace in which he is comfortable. If you force the socialization process and push him past his comfort level, it may backfire. So be mindful. Remember, the goal of socialization is to have as many positive or neutral experiences as possible, and to minimize negative ones.
Dog Walker Astoria
If you require help providing socialization opportunities for your dog and you live in Astoria, you can enroll your pup in daily Socialization Walks with Buster and Whiskers. We offer daily 1-hour Socialization Walks. If your pup is under-socialized, we will work with them to help desensitize them and get them ready for our Group Socialization Walks. You must live within our Astoria coverage area. In addition, your dog must be up-to-date on all required vaccinations. Laying a strong foundation in socialization is the best gift you can give your pup for a long and happy life together!
Buster and Whiskers is The #1 Dog Walking Service in Astoria, NY. If your dog needs more exercise or social interaction, enroll your pup in daily Socialization Walks with us. Contact us for a professional and reliable Dog Walker in Astoria! Follow us on Instagram.
