Are you a responsible dog parent? If so, one of the most important things you can do for your dog is to socialize him properly. This will help him to be friendlier and more confident–not only around other people, but around other dogs as well.

The earliest part of a dog’s socialization begins when he is only a few days old and begins to be aware of his surroundings. Although puppies cannot hear or see at this age, the sensations and smells of mama and siblings bring comfort and familiarity to the newborn pup. After his eyes and ears open, and he begins to interact more with his siblings and explore his surroundings, he learns that it’s safe to leave the nest but mama will be there when he returns. If by chance he gets ‘lost’, his cries alert mama that one of her little ones needs help. She brings him back into the nest where he is once again surrounded by love and warmth.

These earliest days of a pup’s life are paramount in giving him a feeling of safety and security. When he and his siblings are a bit older and begin to tumble and wrestle with each other, they are also learning important lessons. When a pup’s rough play with a sibling has gone a bit too far, and the other pup squeals, the instigator learns what is known as ‘bite inhibition’–in other words, enough is enough. Mama dog also plays an important role in teaching her puppies when they’ve gone too far with a certain behavior. Ideally, puppies should remain with their litters until the age of at least 8 or 9 weeks in order to gain the maximum benefits of these lessons. If they are taken from their litters too young, they miss out on much of these lessons imparted by mama and siblings. This can lead to a shy, fearful dog later in life.

One of the first lessons a puppy needs to learn is his name. The pet parent should begin calling the puppy by his name as soon as as he comes home. Every time he responds, he should be rewarded with lots of praise. Once a puppy has received his first round of vaccines, and the veterinarian gives permission, he should be exposed to as many different types of people and situations as possible. It’s up to the dog parent to make each of these positive, fun experiences–and if the pup seems to be motivated by food, bring a plastic bag of high-value treats, such as bits of cooked chicken or cheese. (These should be broken into tiny morsels so each one is merely a taste.)

As the pup encounters each different person or situation (i.e., people in wheelchairs, busy sidewalks, riding in a car), feed him a few of these treat morsels so he will view these situations as a positive experience. (Here comes a person in a wheelchair! Yay, cheese!) During these encounters, have each person pet the dog to further reinforce the training. So now there are two good things associated with encountering various people and situations: treats and attention. It’s all good so far. But puppies are emotionally fragile creatures (just like young children), and one negative experience can have a lasting effect on a dog’s emotional well-being. It’s up to the pet parent to keep the pup away from negative experiences as much as possible until he is more mature. The age when puppies are most impressionable is between 8-9 weeks to 4 months, so this time is the best window of opportunity for basic socialization.

The next step is beginning obedience. This serves two purposes: learning basic skills and also additional socialization around a diverse group of dogs within a controlled setting. A good way to find an obedience class is through word of mouth. Veterinarians or friends and family members that have dogs are all good sources. One of them may be able to recommend a good class.

An ideal beginning obedience class will have a limited amount of ‘students’ so each dog gets some individualized attention. At the time of enrollment, the teacher should request a copy of the pup’s medical records as well as some background information for both owner and dog. Classes usually meet once a week for about six weeks. During these six weeks, the students will learn loose-leash walking (walking calmly by the parent’s left heel–very useful when dealing with an excited, energetic puppy); sit; stay; down (meaning to lie down); and greeting people calmly (sitting politely). The teacher will also assign ‘homework’ (practice at home). At the end of the six weeks, the students graduate and receive their diplomas.

Proper socialization and obedience training leads to a happy, confident, outgoing canine citizen!