The Importance of Puppy Socialization

There are lots of different elements of being a responsible puppy owner. One of the things that you will need to ensure that you do is to start socializing your furry little friend just as soon as you can. Puppies who are well socialized generally grow into well-adjusted, friendly and confident dogs. Those that aren’t can develop problems with other animals and unusual situations that are stressful for both you and your pet.


Here's what you need to know about socializing your puppy.

What age should I start socializing my puppy?

It’s never too early to start socializing your new puppy. In fact, from the moment they are born they are learning about the world around them and being exposed to new animals (their mother and siblings) and new experiences.


While all socialization is important, it is between 8 weeks and 4 months that is considered the most important period in their socialization. That’s because it is at this time that they start to become very conscious of the world around them and are at their most receptive to new scents, sounds, tastes and visual stimulation.

Helping your puppy be comfortable with adult humans

One of the most important aspects of socialization is helping your puppy to get used to humans. Humans all look different and behave in different ways, and sometimes this can be scary for a new puppy. It can be very helpful to introduce your dog to as many different people as possible to get them used to a wide variety of adults – from small, quiet people to tall people with loud or deep voices. Ideally, when socializing your puppy, you should only introduce them to people with experiences of dogs and who understand how to interact.

Socializing your dog with children

Whilst adults are almost always calm and quiet when meeting a dog for the first time, for children it can be very exciting, and they are likely to be somewhat unpredictable in terms of the noise they make and their playful inquisitive nature towards a puppy. When you allow your puppy to socialize with children, always keep an eye on them and let the dog approach and interact with the children rather than forcing attention on them. In their early life, to avoid confusion or stress, it is recommended to not allow a puppy to socialize with children who are not used to being around dogs.

Introducing your puppy to other animals

If you have any other pets, you’ll need to do this as soon as you bring your puppy home for the first time. The sooner you do, the quicker your home will be a harmonious and stress-free environment for you all. You should do this by staging short, controlled introductions and gradually increasing the amount of time that your animals spend together. When you take them out for walks, keep them on the leash but let them meet other dogs (provided their owner is in agreement).

Let your puppy experience different environments

Socializing isn’t just about your puppy meeting other animals and people, the places they visit and the things they experience are also very important. Take your puppy out for walks in different places and on different surfaces, whether that is grass, concrete, sand or woodland paths, the more they experience the more comfortable they will be when away from home. Also, vary the time of day you take your puppy out so that they experience different temperatures, different levels of light and the variance in noise between different times of day.


If you have any questions about puppy socialization, or to get further advice from our veterinary team, contact Lakeville Family Pet Clinic in Lakeville, Minnesota at (952) 595-6500 today.