Socialization Window - Helping your puppy grow

Socialization is extremely important when it comes to your young puppy. Puppies may seem happy-go-lucky and invincible, but that behavior will not necessarily translate to adulthood unless you reinforce those behaviors by socializing your dog. Letting dogs learn to interact in new situations as puppies is important because it creates the building blocks to a successful adult dog. 

There are many lifelong benefits to presenting your dog with new scenarios while they are young. Introducing them to other people, other dogs, new situations and different environments while encouraging positive interaction is especially critical during what is called the “Puppy Socialization Window.”

Puppies under sixteen to eighteen weeks old are in this window, which essentially means that puppies are a sponge; they will soak up everything they are exposed to. Failing to socialize your dog during this time period can lead to serious issues, including behavior problems during their adult life. Begin socializing your dog as much as you can during this young age.

“It should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated,” according to The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Somewhere between sixteen to eighteen weeks, the puppy reaches their socialization deadline. What your dog has been exposed to prior to this point will shape what type of adult dog your puppy will be.

This is great if you get your dog at a young age, when they are clearly in their socialization window, but what happens if you adopt an older dog who wasn’t socialized as a puppy? Just because you have missed this socialization window doesn’t mean you can’t help your dog, however it will be a much bigger challenge. With an under socialized adult dog, you have to paying close attention to the signals that they give you and make sure you are not intentionally making your dog uncomfortable. Although you want to expose your dog to new things, if they are nervous, they are past the point of becoming used to something new and continued exposure may scare them. Consult the above chart, courtesy of Sara Reusche of paws4u.com and doggie artist Lilli Chin for more information on reading your dog’s signals.

A dog that has been well socialized is able to go out confidently into everyday situations. For those that aren’t, the world can be extremely frightening and this can limit what you will be able to comfortably do with your dog. Get out and allow your dog to interact with other people, pets and places as much as possible, at as young an age as possible. However, if you are having certain issues with your dog, it is best to seek the advice of a professional. Morris K9 Campus offers a variety of different solutions for many issues that you may be having along the way. We offer Free Saturday Puppy Classes for dogs under the age of 20 weeks and fun, interactive training classes to help any dog grow into the well-socialized pet you know they can be.

Helping Your New Dog Feel at Home

Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, everyone wants a place to relax and feel at home. For those of us with a new dog during this time of year, we can’t forget our pets in preparing for a comfortable holiday! If you recently added four legs to your family, make sure that through all of the holiday festivities, you do your best to get your dog acclimated. Here are five holiday helpers in order to make the transition a little bit easier.

Management Always stay one step ahead of your dog. Whether you brought home a puppy or an adult dog, many objects in their new environment will be tempting. Think about the possible scenarios your dog could get into and manage them accordingly. For example, remember that keeping the Christmas ham out on the counter could entice your dog to jump up and take a lick. If you are unable to watch your dog every second, you’ll want to keep them out of the kitchen or keep the food in a safe spot.

Dog Proofing For the holidays, don’t give your new dog free reign of the house. This leaves the possibility open for your pooch to get into mischief, such as eating the holiday dinner, using the Christmas tree as a spot to relieve themselves or unwrapping presents from under the tree. Holiday decorations are a common pet hazard and should be kept out of reach of your dog. Also be careful with household cleaning products, wires, children’s toys or anything else that could be potentially hazardous to your pet.

Teachable Moments Always be on the lookout for teachable moments, or any moment when your dog does something for which they should be rewarded. A good way to do this is to have small treat containers randomly dispersed throughout the house. This allows you to take advantage of any teachable moment with treats readily available. A good example would be a dog that jumps. If your dog likes to jump on strangers but sits nicely instead, grab a treat and reward! It would be great to keep a treat box by the door for such an occasion.

Routine Just like humans, dogs thrive on routine. In order to get your dog adjusted to your new home, you will want to keep a regular schedule. The more you stray from your routine, the longer it will take for your dog to get comfortable. The holidays are always busy, so make sure to remember your dogs feeding and potty times. Your dog has come to rely on the schedule you have started and altering that schedule can confuse them.

Affection Your dog is so happy to have a new home and family this holiday season. However, as you can imagine, this is also stressful for your new pooch. It is important to shower your dog with affection so they begin to bond with you. A belly rub is a great way to show your dog some love and affection. Just remember that your dog still getting to know his new family. Therefore, you will want to stay away from too many hugs and coddles, as this can make your dog a little stressed. Learn to recognize the signs of a stressed dog so you know what to watch out for.

Congratulations on the new addition to your family! Keep in mind it can take up to 12 weeks for your new family member to become completely adjusted to their new life. For help training your new pet into the perfect dog for your family, you can find socialization, training tips and more at Morris K9 Campus. As you get to know your new dog, remember to have fun and enjoy the journey!

Holiday Puppy Dos and Don’ts

During the holiday season, there is often an increase in the amount of puppies that are brought into homes. The holidays can be a stressful and busy time for everyone, but you still need to take time to focus on the newest member of your family. If you bring a puppy home this season, it’s essential that you do the right things in order to begin shaping your puppy into the dog you want them to be. Below is a list of puppy dos and don’ts specifically for the holiday season.

Do

Do puppy proof your holiday decorations. With a new puppy comes experiencing everything for the first time. This means a first introduction to Christmas trees, wrapping paper, tinsel and other holiday decor. If your dog is loose in the house and near the holiday decorations, make sure they are well supervised. Puppies can be extremely curious, so keep a watchful eye on your dog and never let them explore the holiday decorations alone.

Do be cautious when walking your puppy. If it is snowy outside, take care to protect your pet’s feet from ice and salt used on the sidewalks and streets. Read how to keep your dog’s paws safe outside here. Lawn decorations, including inflatables and giant plastic figurines, can be quite scary for a new puppy. Take caution around these objects and bring treats to entice the puppy to walk past anything that makes them uncomfortable.

Do provide your dog with a safe place. The holidays can be filled with lots of family and friends visiting. Have a safe place for your dog to go when they are feeling overwhelmed. Signs of stress in your puppy may include not wanting to greet a certain person or barking. A crate is a great tool that can help your dog feel safe when stressful activities are happening around them.

Do socialize your pet. Your puppy is at a very impressionable age, so it is best to expose them to other dogs and people during this time period. Morris K9 Campus offers free puppy classes on Saturday mornings to help your pet learn how best to interact with other dogs. Visit our website to learn more about what this free class has to offer and how it can make a difference for your new pet.

Do form a routine. From holiday parties to Christmas concerts, this festive time of year can be very busy. As always with a new puppy, however, it is important to keep your dog on a consistent schedule.  This applies to waking up every morning and keeping bedtime consistent, as well as feeding and walking your dog at similar times each day. The more consistent you are, the easier it will be for your dog to adjust to their new home. A steady routine will also help your pet to have fewer accidents in the house. 

Don’t

 

Don’t slack on potty training. Extreme winter temperatures might make going for a walk seem like a huge chore, but just because it is cold outside doesn’t mean you can slack on potty breaks. Bundle up with your jacket and mittens and take your new puppy outside! If you have a short-haired or small dog, don’t forget to bundle them up as well. A jacket will keep them toasty during their winter walks.

Don’t feed your dog food off the table. As tempting as it may be, don’t feed your new puppy  food off the dinner table. Feeding your puppy scraps could lead to your dog begging later in life. Also it should be noted that not all of your holiday food is safe for your dog to eat. Better safe than sorry!  If you really want to treat your dog to some of your holiday feast, fix them their own plate and don’t feed it to them off the table. You can always stuff a rubber Kong toy with some dog-safe holiday food, this way it will keep them busy while keeping them safe. Chicken or turkey without the skin would be a great treat for your new pup, however, limit quantities to avoid an upset tummy.

Don’t overwhelm your puppy. While it is great to socialize your young puppy and have them meet as many new people as possible, be careful not to overwhelm your dog. Remember that your puppy is in a new situation and a bunch of strangers in your home can be quite scary. Have your dog meet as many people as they seem comfortable meeting, and if the situation seems to get a little scary, make sure you have a safe place for them to go.

The holidays can be a fun time for you and your new puppy, but make sure that you do everything you can to set your new dog up for success and make their first holiday season a great one!

Double Trouble: Why Two Dogs are Sometimes Not Better than One

There is so much joy a new puppy can bring you; those cute puppy dog eyes, puppy breath and that playful carefree demeanor. So what happens when you fall in love with two new puppies instead of one? Do you adopt those cute little puppies, or do you resist the urge you have to adopt both and consider all of the facts first? A single puppy is a lot of work and, although two puppies can sound wonderful, they are also twice the work.  If you really want two pooches, first consider your motive behind wanting to get them. Today we are going to debunk the common reasons why people say they want two puppies, and why two puppies might not be the best idea for your family.

My dog needs someone to keep them company while I am gone.

Dogs do enjoy the company of other dogs and other people, but it’s also important to remember what can go on while you are not home. Double the dogs mean double the trouble; hours of being home alone could mean hours of mischief for both of your pets. Another good thing to keep in mind is that dogs from the same litter that grow up together usually bond closer with each other more than they bond with any human. This is commonly known as littermate syndrome, and can lead to issues when training.  Since training can usually bond a human and a dog, consider whether two dogs will be excited to work with you in class, or more interested in what their littermate is doing.

Since they are the same age, it won’t be much more work.

Getting a second dog means twice the amount of work, if not more. When it comes to training, housetraining, and vet visiting, it means you have to do twice the amount of what you expected to do with one dog. It is recommended that you bring your new dogs to training class separately, that means clearing at least two different class times in your schedule. It also means that when you are house training two dogs, if you spotted an accident, would you know what dog it was? Remember that having two dogs doubles your load of work. Do you have the time for both of your pooches?

My kids each want their own dogs, so I need to get two.

This idea sounds nice, but in reality you are going to be the one responsible most of the time for the dogs. Don’t let your kids be the deciding factor in getting a second dog. Your kids can share and bond with your pet in different ways. Look for classes that are offered that involve children, like our Kids Training Dogs class at Morris K9 Campus; it’s a great way to train your pet while helping to establish a connection between your child and your dog.

If I don’t take home the other dog, no one else will.

Don’t adopt a second dog out of sympathy. Remember that a dog is a 15 year commitment that shouldn’t be made just because you feel sorry for another dog. Adopt your puppy from a no-kill shelter and you can make sure the rescue will find the other pups a good home. If you are getting your dog from a breeder, don’t worry, the breeder will keep looking to find a suitable home.

Getting two dogs at the same time can be difficult, regardless if they are puppies or adult dogs.  Usually a good rule to go by is to wait at least 6 months in between getting dogs. This makes sure that your dog has time to adjust to their new household and that they also have time to bond with you. If you do end up getting two dogs together, it best to consult a local trainer for advice. Trainers can be helpful for anything from housebreaking to how they should be left when they are home alone. A puppy can be fun, but it’s also a lot of work, so make sure you are prepared before brining your new puppy home.