K9 SWIM - CANINE HYDROTHERAPY CENTRE NSW, NORTH RICHMOND
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Splash
  • Testimonials
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us

Why Socialisation is Extremely Important for Your Puppy

26/4/2019

 
Picture
Dog trainers and veterinarians often tell you how important socialisation is for your pets. So what exactly is it?  It’s essentially the method used to teach puppies how to cope with the world around them as they grow. The critical socialisation period is generally from 4 to 12 weeks of age. This is the time you’d introduce your puppy to various situations they would encounter in their life. The objective is to ensure that every experience they have is positive and that they don’t become distressed in any way. 

When your puppy sees something new for the very first time, they are more likely to be startled than interested. The interest quotient comes in later, after which they decide how significant it is and whether they should pay more attention to it. The different things they would be trying to determine are whether it’s safe, can be eaten, played with or is it dangerous?

Important Facts About Canine Socialisation 

Picture
Being able to discover all this vital information in a comfortable and safe way, with positive outcomes helps them become a more balanced adult dog. Here are some facts about socialisation for puppies:
  • As mentioned at the start, the critical time for socialisation is 4-12 weeks. 
  • Puppies that are in the 8-10 weeks age group often experience a fear period. A negative experience during this time can create an indelible mark on their psyche. 
  • Successful socialisation can be achieved by thinking carefully about the things you are doing before pushing your young puppy into any situation. 
  • It’s much more than just taking your puppy to a dog park and encouraging them to mingle with other puppies there. This effort won’t be useful if your pup is unsure about the outcome or is scared. That will only have a negative effect on your puppy. 
Puppies aren’t intrinsically social animals and they won't freely associate and instinctively welcome strange dogs & other animals or even humans. It’s why they need to hone their understanding of the world through positive experiences. This can help them bond well with others. Successful socialisation is when your dog or puppy is exposed to myriad social stimuli and environments in a positive manner; this is vital in promoting confidence. 

Tips to Socialise for Success 

Picture
Archie and Keira thought it was a great idea to come to K9 Swim on such a beautiful sunny day with the top down of mum's car!
  • Make every effort to expose your puppy to a range of experiences such as taking them for walks and car rides. 
  • Visit family members that like puppies so your pup can explore new yards and garden areas. While you are there have your family members sit down near the puppy to play with them and feed them treats. This will reinforce that it’s fun to meet new people. 
  • Introduce your pup to people from different walks of life and of different ages- children, women, men, teens on skates and skateboards, people on bikes, individuals in wheelchairs, men with beards, people with walking sticks, the plumber, the postman, the gardener etc. This is one of the best ways to diminish the fear factor for your puppy. He will slowly start accepting them as part of his environment without becoming fearful, shy or aggressive. 
  • Introduce your pup to as many dogs as possible, but ensure they aren’t aggressive to other dogs. It’s important that you closely monitor all interactions in order to guard against any negative experiences. 
  • Never leave your puppy alone with any other dog, especially ones that are bigger than them. The larger dog may lose inhibition and become aggressive with your puppy. Even if the dog doesn’t get aggressive, there is always the risk of them potentially injuring your pup even in normal play. 
  • Don’t force your pup into new experiences. Give them a choice and let them get comfortable with new things at their own pace.

Once your pup is 3 months old they can come to K9 SWiM’s Hydrotherapy centre for a swim in our state of the art canine heated pool. K9 SWiM also runs regular Puppy Splash classes that run for six weeks where puppies will learn to socialise and get confident in the water. It is a great bonding experience for you and your pup. You will both have lots of FUN!
Check out when the next Puppy Splash starts
Picture
Here's Doug one of our Puppy Splash Graduates
Picture
Here's Boo enjoying a swim with Brooke and Sharon
You may also be interested in reading:
Canine Hydrotherapy  
Making Your Garden Dog Friendly  
How To Recognise Whether Your Dog is Anxious- Tips To Help Them Naturally 
 

Comments are closed.
    Call Us ​1300 787 064
    Picture
    Subscribe
    Read Previous Newsletters
    Picture

    Author

    Hi I'm Sharon Osmond the owner and founder of K9 Swim. The Splash Blog is where I share tips and information on dog's health and safety and some fun facts and stories.

    Categories

    All
    Canine Recipes
    Canine Stories
    Canine Tips
    Canine Underwater Treadmill
    Dog Health
    Dog Massage
    Dog Safety
    Hydrotherapy For Dogs
    K9 Fun Facts
    Natural Therapies For Dogs
    Photonic Therapy For Dogs
    Weight Loss

    Archives

    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015

    RSS Feed

Subscribe to K9 SWiM's Monthly Splash Newsletter
for upcoming events and get the latest tips for your dogs health and well being.

Location

853 Kurmond Road, North Richmond NSW 2754

Navigation

Home
About
Services
Splash
Testimonials
FAQ
​Contact

Telephone No

1300 787 064

opening hours

Monday          CLOSED
Tuesday          9:00am - 2:00pm
Wednesday  
9:00am - 2:00pm
Thursday        9:00am - 4:00pm
Friday              CLOSED
Saturday        9:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday          CLOSED

Let's get social

Download Vet Referral Form
Picture
Picture
Wheelchair Accessible
Copyright © K9 SWiM 2019
​|     Disclaimer     |     Privacy Statement     |     Terms and Conditions  
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Splash
  • Testimonials
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us