Puppy Socializing

[BraveTyphlosion]

Hey I'm new to all of this. I'm getting my first puppy ever soon and I had a question about socializing.

I've read that if you don't complete basic socilalization before your puppy reaches 3 months of age that you'll have an exceptionally difficult time properly doing so after. Have any of you noticed your peak times for socializing are between 0 and 3 months or did you find your puppy did best at other times?

How did you introduce your puppy to unusual animals?(Cats would be especially useful but let me know about funny looking dogs, birds, and other animals you're likely to come across)

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!!! Pups don't even come home until they are 2 months old (8 weeks at least) and don't complete their vaccinations until 4 months old.

Please read the top threads in this section regarding house training as well as other training basics. I might also suggest you buy a book on general dog knowledge.

Good luck to you.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

After further discussion with "Brave", I am unlocking this thread.

Some people may wish to add to this discussion.

[BraveTyphlosion]

I reworded it so it sounds less...ill informed xD now that I read it, it did sound kind of silly hopefully this sounds a little better.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Now my post following your post sounds silly! Oh well.

You really should not start socializing your puppy until 4 months of age so that all of the vaccines can be given (if you're in North America!) Come to think of it, I'm not entirely sure where you live. I'm in London, Ontario, Canada by the way.

In North America, dogs don't receive their rabies vaccine until 16 weeks and therefore should not be exposed to any other animals, except the ones currently residing in the household. After that, it is a good idea to take the puppy with you whenever you can so that he becomes accustomed to car rides, and not ones just to the Vet, as well as sights and sounds.

I think I read somewhere that you had already lined up puppy training classes. If I am mistaken, please correct me. Those classes will be a great first step in introducing your dog to other dogs. Take it from there as I'm sure you'll learn a lot in those classes.

Since I don't own cats, or exotic birds, I can't offer any sound advice on that. From what I've heard from our other members, usually an adult cat will naturally put the puppy in its place and one may have to supervise the cat more than the dog. I honestly don't know what either of my two, that I have now, would do if they encountered a cat as I'm not sure they've ever been close to one. My previous 2 dogs (a Golden and a Lab) would have considered the Cat to be prey, plain and simple, but they didn't grow up around them.

I hope I've been more helpful this time.

[Deerie me]

The puppy will learn a lot of the skills and body language it needs initially through playing with it's mother and litter mates. As long as you let your puppy meet plenty of people and animals once he has had his vaccinations there shouldn't be much of a problem. Don't overload him especially at first. Humans can look scary and strange when wearing certain outfits such as hats sunglasses, bike helmets etc so it can be a good idea to gently introduce your pup to these situations too.

As far as other animals go just be sensible. Always supervise first meetings closely so neither party gets hurt. Maybe put the puppy in his crate and let the cat into the room or have the pup on a lead. Always ensure that the cat can escape out of reach. It is a good idea to give the cat a room or area that is a puppy-free safe haven where they can have peace and quiet away from barking and needle-sharp teeth. I have three dogs, two of them quite large and also three cats. All have happily co-existed for years. On a side note, dogs find litter trays irresistible, so you may want to make sure that, that is tucked away out of puppy reach because you don't want puppy kisses after that delicacy.

[BraveTyphlosion]

I live in Canada, Alberta, Edmonton. So, not as far away from you as I thought. I'm not entirely sure how all the shots and deworming work out, I just know that there are three sets early on and then I think from there it is yearly boosters. I trust my vet to know exactly when and how things should be done. I'm planning on setting up an appointment shortly after my puppies arrival(usualy our pets see the vet one or two days after they come home). Teddy will have already had his first set of shots and deworming before he comes home.

Yes, special classes for puppies provided by our lovely shelter for a decent price. I've never known anyone who took them so I'm not entirely sure how truely in depth they get into it all but I'm really hoping it helps. It says that your puppy should be no older than 4 months, but I'm pretty sure they're very careful about the spread of disease and things and they insist on veterinary proof that your puppy has all it's required shots and such.

Puppy Basics

Puppies must have 2 sets of vaccinations and be no older than 4 months of age by class start.

This course is the must have course for every young puppy. It is imperative that puppies meet as many people, dogs and things as possible during this stage of their lives as well as learning bite inhibition. Puppies spend most of the hour off leash so puppies can learn socialization skills with both people and other dogs.

It’s not all about play…your puppy will learn sit, down, wait, come and leash skills as well. The instructors are well versed on canine behavior and can help you with common puppy behaviors and how to survive them.


The exotic birds aren't as important as cats and odd looking dogs. Birds for the most part stay indoors although I've seen one person occasionally bring their bird outside for some fresh air durring the summer so I thought maybe it might be a good idea to have my puppy introduced to at least some birds.
We have two cats so I'm hoping to see them all live peacefully together. We also have many other cats running around the neighborhood including a disabled one(Her mother had distemper and so she ended up with motor problem and doesn't move the same way other cats would). I'm planning to work a little more slowly and gently than when we introduced kittens to cats since it's an entire species difference. I think I might start out with introducing the puppy in a crate and then move him out onto a leash around the cats once I'm sure they seem okay with him in the crate. We have decided that the dog will be "forbidden" from the basement which is where the litter boxes are and will be a safe place for the cats to hide away when they've had enough.
Typically with kittens and cats we would simply place them down and watch what happens, within as little as a day the kitten would attack the older cat playfully and with a mighty paw the older cat would smack the kitten. It's sort of a gentle but firm hit, never once have I seen claws be unsheathed but you can hear a loud slapping sound to go with it and the kitten appears a little put off. Half an hour later they would be washing each other affectionately. Now I realise puppies are very different and I really hope my cats don't scare it permenantly but I also want to make sure the puppy understands that kitties are NOT chew toys and cannot be played with too roughly.

Also, just want to say thankyou to everyone helping me out :]

[elleB]

Puppy Socialization are of the most importance as a puppy hood that is most important with critical time with dog's development and have an affect of dog's behavior.