Helping Your Dog Explore the World
Socializing a dog means introducing it to new people, animals, objects, and experiences—gradually and positively.
Use treats or gentle pats to build a good association with new things. You can make a list of what your dog should experience.
New Experiences List
- Riding an elevator. At first, just getting the dog inside might be a challenge, so use treats to encourage those first steps.
- Wearing a medical cone. Give treats when putting it on so the dog can adjust slowly.
- Uneven surfaces. Place a board on small stones and guide the dog onto the wobbly surface.
- People. Expose your dog to a variety of humans.
- Various sounds. Doorbells, doors slamming, horns—if it doesn’t overly scare your dog, use loud noises like banging pots or ringing the doorbell to lower noise sensitivity.
- Animals. Horses, cats, reptiles, birds, livestock—these experiences expand your dog’s horizons.
The Earlier, The Better
Dogs vary greatly in how confident they are with new experiences. Much of this depends on genetics. Early socialization, especially in the first four months, can be hugely beneficial.
