Socialising a puppy: the weeks that shape its life

What a puppy experiences in its first months influences what it will be like as an adult. How to introduce it to the world without overwhelming it.

Between roughly three and fourteen weeks, puppies are especially open to learning that the world is a safe place. What they get to know positively then will be easier for them as adults.

What to introduce, little by little

All kinds of people: children, older people, people with caps, umbrellas or bicycles.
Other calm, vaccinated dogs.
Household and street noises: the hoover, traffic, the doorbell.
Different surfaces, the car, the lift, the carrier.
Having its paws, ears and mouth touched, for the vet and the groomer.

How to do it

Always at its own pace: if it gets scared, move back a little and reward it when it is calm.
Short, good experiences are better than long, overwhelming ones.
Ask your vet when it can go out and mix with other dogs, depending on its vaccinations.
Puppy classes with a trainer who uses positive methods are a great help.