60 Things Before 6 Months

Dogs need to be socialized. That means that dogs need to SEE the world, and handle it with social grace. We need to teach them the skills and habits necessary for participating within our society. Unfortunately socialization got misunderstood as interacting and playing. While puppies do need to play with other puppies, this is a very small piece in their education, but somehow became the only piece. 

Here is a socialization list that I have been compiling for the last three puppies that I raised. This is the type of thing that I teach in my puppy class.

·         Ride in a wheelbarrow (if you don’t have one - go to home depot and do it in the store)

·         Many, many bridges of different surfaces, widths, heights, gaps in between planks etc.

·         Climbing Driftwood at the beach for footing, balance, and learning how to use her body

·         Climbing rocks to focus feet and balance.

·         Take her to 5 pet friendly stores – like home depot, a bank, a movie store Canadian tire etc.

·          The Pet store where she shopped - but be careful of overly-friendly strangers who may not heed your instructions.

·         A busy area of town with heavy traffic, people, bikes, dogs, joggers etc

·         Find many types of floor surfaces

·         A walk with a friend and her dog

·         Children, and sat outside playgrounds

·         Walk past a middle school at 3:00 (Or when it gets out – try to keep moving the first day, then allow kids to say hi calmly – Do this when they are a little older)

·         Hung out with chickens, ducks, and goats. When the goats were really scary, she was on my lap being protected

·         Been tossed into a giant box stuffed full with Teddy Bears, then got covered with Teddies and had to crawl her way out

·         Had towels thrown over top of her head.

·         Been held for cuddling and kisses every night

·         Had her toe-nails worked on weekly, with clippers or dremmel 

·         Been cuddled and kissed while she chews on her bones

·         Give her raw bone, take it away. Make her wait patiently before returning it to her. Repeat. 

·         Walk at a new beach, forest or Mountain every single day.

·         Is crated every single day for varying lengths of times working up to 7 hours.  Even if you work from home this is important as you never know when you may be stuck in traffic, have an emergency or get held up.

·         Travelled in two vehicles, in different types of crates or seating arrangements. 

·         Because she is so friendly, learn the art of walking past people without always saying hello. Walk past at least four out of five people without greeting, otherwise her friendliness will be annoying when she is big and strong. 

·         Maybe one of the most important things: She can pee and poop on grass, gravel, asphalt, or cement, on a leash, or free. This makes traveling very simple. 

·         Every day she is presented with small problems that she must solve... how to get her ball that rolled under the couch, how to get the marrow out of her bone, how to stay on a bridge without falling off, how to climb over a downed tree that is higher than she thinks

she can climb. Help her but NEVER do it for her. And only help enough so that she has the confidence to do the rest. If she puts in no effort, do not help her.

·         Play Dates with trusted dog-friends

·         Walk on all types of stairs

·         Been in a boat

·         Go swimming with a slow steady introduction to water

·         Go into the petting zoo to see all the animals, and more importantly, all the children

·         (For Victoria people) Walked on the weird decks at Fisherman's Wharf and explored this fun place. Be careful your puppy does not get eaten by the seals - and no, I am not joking. Don't allow them on the edge, peering into the water, just in case!

·         Go to two friend’s houses for dinner, and met their dogs when they were calm so that they would not scare her

·         Been in a hammock

·         Sat on your lap in a swing

·         Gone down a slide, in my lap

·         Numerous games of soccer, foot ball, running with some sort of ball – letting her get the ball sometimes and not get the ball other times

·         Stayed in hotels, and another house, during vacation

·         This polite puppy will learned to demand what she wants from you. This will be removed when she is less polite

·         Travelled in the child section of a shopping cart, all around Home Depot

·         Ride in an elevator

·         Go through Automatic Doors 

·         Be around someone that smells of cigarette smoke

·         Walk past a person in a wheelchair

·         Hung out at the Vets and gotten cookies

·         Have a friend put socks on all feet so she gets use to people touching her feet

·         Every single day have her settle into your lap. This will be a struggle in the beginning – do not let her win. Lay her on her side with her head in your lap until she totally settles. You’ll know she has settled when her head is heavy on your lap

·         Have a someone you know but your puppy does not know come into your home and let her out of her crate for a pee.

Socialization means teaching life skills. Exposed them to every possible skill that she might need to be a functional adult. With all of the exposure and success comes a level of confidence and bravery; they will get to the point where they believe they are invincible. Even when they get into trouble, they know you’re right there behind her to help her with her difficulties.

When she feels overwhelmed or scared, protect them but kneeling beside her but do not coddle or tell her “its ok” Stay strong and brave with confidence. By not asking them to brave it, they watch from your side or in your arms then starts wriggling like a mad things wanting to go forward and do it themselves

As you go on your adventures in the world, both good and bad, you are a team, and you have their back – they know that.

-Written by The Naughty Dogge, Monique Anstee