Socialization is a crucial part of a dog’s development. Getting your dog acclimated to humans and other dogs is also essential if you need to put them in a doggy day care at any point. Evergreen Kennels is Churchville, NY’s go-to pet grooming salon and sitter. Below, the team offers some helpful tips for socializing your furry companion. 

Doggy Day Care’s 4 Tips for Canine Socialization 

1. Start Early 

You can teach an old dog new tricks, but it’s much easier to train a puppy. Dogs are ready to venture out and experience the world at about eight weeks. If you have a young puppy, allow others to pet, cuddle, and play with them at this time. This will help them become more trusting and comfortable around other humans.

It’s mainly important to socialize a puppy before they are 16 weeks of age, as this is a crucial period in their development. If your pup is younger than eight weeks, make sure they spend most of their time at their mother’s side and wait to introduce them to other people or animals at a doggy day care. 

2. Take Them for Walks 

Dogs of all ages need exercise, and walking is an excellent way to ensure they get enough. Walks are also an opportunity to meet other dogs and people and practice good behavior in public. If they act up, don’t yell or pull the leash hard as this can exacerbate their nervousness and makes them associate adverse reactions with other dogs. Instead, stay calm but assertive. If you’ve trained them to respond to a sound, use it to correct them. Otherwise, quickly tug the leash sideways or, if that doesn’t work, walk away. 

3. Encourage Proper Biting 

You don’t want your dog to bite others. Fortunately, some gentle guidance can help them understand when and what they shouldn’t bite. Puppies, in particular, tend to chomp down on anything in sight, some of which could harm them. If they snap inappropriately during playtime, stop playing but don’t yell or be forceful. 

4. Teach Them About Noise 

Dogs have a much stronger sense of hearing than humans, so noises that are loud to you will be indescribably loud to your pup. For this reason, they may act up or get overwhelmed if they’re not adequately acclimated to different sounds. If you have a young dog, gradually help them get used to hearing unusual noises, such as the TV, traffic, and kids playing. Once they’re familiar with these sounds, they’ll be less phased when out and about. 

The doggy day care team at Evergreen Kennels offers an excellent place to get your dogs around others in a safe, controlled environment. If you live in Rochester or the surrounding areas, count on this local pet boarding and grooming establishment for all of your pet care needs. Call (585) 293-1920 or visit the website to learn more about their services.