Puppy socialisation: common mistakes and how to avoid them

Less is more.

Getting a new puppy is super exciting! We want to show off our bundle of cuteness when they are still so small and fluffy, and why shouldn’t we, socialisation is what we need to be doing, right? 

Yes and no. Yes puppies need socialisation, they need to learn how to interact and to not be scared of things, we all love the idea of a dog we can take to the pup and they’ll be completely chilled at your feet watching the world go by, or even having a snooze. The ‘no’ comes with how we do it…puppies are going through a massive change, leaving their litter which is familiar and safe, to learning about a whole new world which is big and scary. What often happens is our puppies are overwhelmed, there is so much to smell, see and hear…and everyone wants to touch them. For many puppies this is all too much, and they become scared.

Socialisation is a balancing act. Be your puppies advocate, carry them places and let them watch things from a distance, don’t let lots of people come and touch them at once. Take it slow and easy. Give them tasty food rewards when they are experiencing new things, be clued up on canine body language and get them out of a situation if you see they are becoming uncomfortable. This way, you’ll have that pub dog that can take it all in its stride!