How to do Early Puppy Socialization - Advice, Research, Power Tips

Understand the importance of early puppy socialization and GET ON IT. Learn the steps and develop a customized strategy. **** Download the FREE Simpawtico Basic Gear Buyer’s Guide here: geni.us/buyers...
-----TIME STAMPS-----
Scott and Fuller 1:32
Drs. Brennen and Hughes 3:10
Dr. R.K. Anderson’s Open Letter 4:59
AVSAB Position Statement 5:41
Socialization Power Tips 6:31
Closing 12:18
-----LINKS to RESOURCES-----
Dr. R.K. Anderson’s Open Letter
www.trainyourdo...
The AVSAB Position Statement on Puppy Socialization (great info)
bit.ly/2KfCkTV
Scott & Fuller’s book "Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog"
amzn.to/2GDgpnt
Dr. Ian Dunbar’s book "Before and After You Get Your Puppy"
amzn.to/2KKYptH
You can also get the free eBook version of Dr. Dunbar’s book on our website:
www.simpawtico-...
Dr. Dunbar’s book is also available for free on Dog Star Daily
www.dogstardai...
We also really love Dr. Sophia Yin’s book The Perfect Puppy in 7 Days
amzn.to/2GDD1Ei
And if you’re raising a working puppy, we absolutely love Michael Ellis’s DVD
leerburg.com/el...
See the full, unedited interview with Drs. Brennen and Hughes
• Keys to Raising a pupp...
Lake Road Animal Hospital and Kennels
lakeroadanimal...
Our article and free handout on Classical Conditioning
www.simpawtico-...
Simpawtico’s Puppy Training playlist on KZbin
• Puppies!
*******
Hungry for more in-depth training?
Simpawtico's online course, "Dog Training Essentials:" bit.ly/simpawti...
Simpawtico's online course, "Loose Leash Walking:" bit.ly/simpawti...
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Visit the Learning Center on our website for step-by-step instructions with vids, downloadable handouts, and more!
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About this video: In this video, Ian Stone from Simpawtico Dog Training discusses early puppy socialization, which is probably the most important thing you’ll do with your puppy. We interview veterinarians, list some of the research from the world’s top organizations, and give you a run-down of some great strategies to get you going strong!
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in the post above are “affiliate links.” If you click the link and purchase the item, Simpawtico Dog Training, LLC will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we use personally that we believe will add value to our viewers. Your price is the same whether you use the affiliate link or not.

[@NP-sd9md]

So i really like the increased emphasis on research in this video. A mix of concrete references like professional interviews, direct quotes, and book/site recommendations, with bullet summaries. It supports the philosophy in your videos being built on an objective foundation. Working all that into a single video can’t be easy, but i think it makes its points clearer then distilled opinion alone. Would love to see more.

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Thank you for the feedback! I enjoyed making this one!

[@yeoinbird]

couldn't have said it better myself!!!

[@FairlyUnknown]

These types of videos should be mandatory before adopting or purchasing a puppy/dog. It's baffling the sheer amount of people who don't even know they need to train their dog yet they jump in and get one anyway "because it's cute."

[@ThatHuskyisCrazy]

We got our dog at 8 weeks and started socialization right away. Before that he had his litter mates. Young puppies have some degree of immunity form their mothers. Our local Petco has free puppy play on the weekends.

[@nancynewlin]

I’ve watched A LOT of dog training videos and have taken all of my dogs to puppy training over the past 30 years, but your videos are so well organized (I LOVE bullet points!) and provide such useful information that I’m going to watch all of them before I get my schnoodle puppy in early 2023. At that time, winter weather and her toy size will definitely factor into how I can get as much (appropriate) socialization accomplished as possible.

[@NarumiChIan]

I found your channel a couple days ago and have been binge watching all of your videos, thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge with us!

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Thank YOU!

[@nadstm]

I really liked this video but with the covid-19 situation puppy schools are no longer running. Would love some tips on socializing puppies during this unique time

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Great question! Puppy Culture wrote a phenomenal article on the subject. Very thorough and well-written. Check it out: www.puppyculturestories.com/read/socializing-puppies-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic

[@tbm9282]

Yes! We have a 10 week GSD/Huskie mix and we can't take him anywhere, because we can't go anywhere!

[@vinvogel9844]

@@SimpawticoDogTraining Hey man, thanks for all the info! Love your vids! Could you make a video on how we should socialize puppies with the people around us (mostly close neighbors/family), showing very practical exemples? I live in a small building and most of the neighbors are my friends (yup, I'm that lucky!). Is it OK if our neighbors play with and hold the puppy? Should them and us feed the puppy with treats during a pleasant session? You know, a step-by-step vid would be just AMAZING :) Thanks! Stay healthy and safe!

[@DragonSkaterrr]

im getting a new amstaff pup shes 3 weeks old when shes 8 we get her,

[@vanessalindsley7221]

For anyone in the Austin TX area, Southpaws Playschool on S Lamar is doing free puppy parties (split between younger indoor group and older outdoor group) with social distancing, masks required, and 2-3 dog professionals to encourage play breaks and positive reinforcement for good behavior. I’ve gone multiple times during the past few months and it’s so cool to see the puppies get brave and playful!

[@suefischer9741]

This guy really knows his stuff! After 60 years and having raised 9 dogs , six different breeds, I can honestly say that I have learned from having each one. This time I have chosen a toy /miniature breed and am feeling a little anxious about this small dog. I head to the internet and find Ian, thank goodness and looking forward to any info or wisdom he could impart on behalf of Marnie and myself. WE,ll be watching! Please use my first name only. Thank you

[@danieljones6072]

Every parent wants to socialise there kids, but it is insane how many people do not socialise there dogs at a young age

[@johanaau2639]

bruh ur pfp fye asfff 🔥 but truuu

[@subyouwont]

Or brush their teeth

[@anthonytuccillo6274]

I want to socialize my pup, but when he gets excited to meet a new dog, the owner apologizes and walks away 🤷‍♂️

[@Angie_978]

This was such an affirming video. Thanks! I had two little bull mastiff girlies. I took them to meet so many people in the 3 months I fostered them. I would let them meet new people occasionally when we were parked and encourage the people to reach their hand in the partly open window to pet them (these were people I knew already). I did this because I knew that they were going to grow up to be huge (the mom was 150lbs) and I didn't want contribute to the negative outcome of having two of those crazy berserk dogs that lunge and snap at strangers who walk by a vehicle. I wanted them to be friendly. We also used to go on walks to the playground that my nephews went to so they could meet more little kids. When kids would ask to pet them, I always said "thank you for asking, sure, if it's ok with your parent". I wanted to reinforce to the kids that getting permission is important. We also met with every dog (and dog owner) on our block, and tons of dog-friendly cats, too. Glad to know that getting them properly introduced to people and dogs is the right thing to do, and so important. Thanks for your vids!

[@sandyg3772]

I love your point about the vaccines. Wanting to do the "right" thing for my puppy, I listened to my vet and waited. Ugh, that was a huge mistake! I will never make that mistake again. Now I am trying to fix the problems it caused.

[@lovebirds360]

Got our puppy at 9 weeks (from a lady who had no idea how to take care of a puppy + clearly wasn't socializing her--we're also pretty sure she came from a puppy mill), so started a little late, but so far I've been inviting as many people over as possible + taking her out to any store that allows dogs (minus the pet store). Home Depot has been great because there are tons of people and noises, and it's easy to get away if puppy gets too scared. So far she's really frightened by car engines and large dogs, so we've been working on that with our car + the neighbor's doberman. Very people friendly, not too fond of other dogs, but hopefully we can change that! The soonest puppy class doesn't start until the end of March (she'll be 13 weeks old), but better late than never. I have a few friends with dogs who I want to introduce her to, so she'll get some more doggy interaction that way. We also have 2 dogs at home, so she's been getting daily socialization and playtime with the youngest (who is 2 years old).

[@Mike-eq4ky]

Complete agree with NP, what I love is the actionable advice backed up by current research. Great job. Goot a 15 week female wer are socializing and trying to keep up with my 2yr old's socialization who is an intact male and naturally less confident. A couple week of puppy boot camp away from home and then bringing him everywhere - stores, parks, errands, etc - has really helped him improve his confidence and behavior.

[@WhereDogsThrive]

Another highly educational and entertaining video! 👏👏👏❤️ This is SUCH an IMPORTANT issue that I try to emphasize with new puppy clients. There is a disconnect with many new pet owners of how detrimental this is. I think it's simply that they just don't know any better not that they are bad pet parents. Thank you for making videos like this to help bridge the gap and help people become more informed!❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏👏

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Thank you Nicole! I completely agree: I think it's a matter of not knowing! Spreading good info is the best thing we can do!

[@eurwise3673]

Getting our puppy in 3 weeks and feel so much more prepared - you are the biz.... I love the mix of credible theory and practical advice, your graphics, approach - everything is spot on! Loving all the videos - I finally know how to properly use a kong toy! Keep up the great work!!

[@reese8912]

I’ve been watching a lot of your videos and I really want to implement them into a dog we’re fostering. It is a pitbull mix which is why I especially want him to be well mannered and know how to play with dogs and people bc I know they get a bad wrap and I don’t want to take any chances to be put down or sent back to a rescue. The problem is I’m 14 and don’t have much power in my household and it doesn’t help I’m not good at explaining things. I would show my parents your videos but I never know when it’s the right situation/time and whenever I try to explain it, they say something else and I feel awkward. I really want this dog to be the best it can be and I know at the age that it is a lot of these steps are CRUCIAL and VERY important. I just want what’s best for the dog without seeming like I’m talking back or disrespecting my parents

[@winterokami9650]

Wow I never knew how short the time is for proper socialisation with people. My husband and I adopted a puppy at around 13 weeks of age and did everything we could to properly socialise her with many different people besides the ones she sees all the time. She still developed a terrible fear of people she doesn’t know and I always felt like I failed somehow with her. I can’t express how relieving it is to know that that isn’t the case. Now I feel like I have a fresh new perspective on dealing with this anxiety issue and can move forward in working to overcome her fear instead of blaming myself. I know I may never get her to love everyone she meets but I can get her to at least enjoy a walk without worrying about the people she passes on the street.

[@dogscott7881]

Great video and great advice, too bad it falls on deaf ears with the, "I've owned dogs my whole life and..." crowd 🙄

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

That is the honest truth, right there, oy vey.

[@carolbeckett6215]

Just joined. Love the videos. I don’t socialize much myself and meeting 100 people 😳 I have no idea how I’m going to do this especially with COVID lingering!! So I guess just try to take him everywhere, let him observe traffic, other dogs - don’t see many other dogs except walking, foot traffic, noises, other animals, kids playing etc...? Worried now as I really want him to be socialized properly .... will put myself out there. So bad doggie germ hotspots would be dog parks, rest stops, puppy classes, Pet stores? Other stores allow dogs in?! I rarely see a dog in a store unless it’s a pet related store. Getting him end of Sept so hopefully a couple months of decent weather where people are out !!

[@tiggywawa]

@@carolbeckett6215 It is a great video Carol. Such a good presentation of the up to date information. Just do your best! I love the line 'dogs don't grow out of problems they grow into them'.

[@halokit9000]

I’ve owned dogs my whole life and the unsocialized ones ended up fearful and aggressive towards other dogs. One even broke her jaw and almost lost her eye because of it. Socialize your dogs people. I’m 16 and still have the one who broke her jaw she’s ten years old and she’ll probably never be able to feel comfortable around other dogs though I’m trying to train her out of aggression and more to indifference. A “if you stay away from me I’ll stay away from you” attitude.

[@rachaelfinlay8521]

Simpawtico Dog Training Hi, great video, thanks! Qq - when should be the first time I take my dog out? And if before all vaccinations have been done should I just carry him rather than let him walk on the street freely. Also what is the best thing to do if I want to socialize him early with other dogs but don’t have a lot of dogs in the family and puppy classes aren’t going ahead at the moment in my area due to COVID? Thanks and look forward to your reply.

[@vampiricconure]

SO GLAD I watched this video on socialization! I have a 10 week old pup who loves people. I'm trying to get her into socialization classes. So far no luck. Your video helped me get an idea of what to do on my own until we can see a trainer :) THANKS!!

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

You're welcome! Good luck with all of it!

[@DouglasSampaio89]

I'm getting our puppy in 3 weeks when he will be 8 weeks old, it's a springer spaniel! Your videos are helping a lot to be prepared. Can't wait to put all the classes in practice! I'm sharing all your videos to our litter mates. Thanks a lot!

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Congratulations on your new Springer puppy! Happy to help!

[@amberjl8963]

My family is bringing home a Boston Terrier puppy next month and since it’s been many years since owning a puppy and best practices have changed we’re soaking up as much information as possible.

[@ncgrl72]

I have a 10 month old micro bully that was abused. I am also a first time dog owner so learning is all I feel I can do to have the best outcome for her. At this point I feel like I am in overload since she is not where she should be for her age as far as training. Thanks for the dog park bit, that is where I was going to start with socialization. Your videos have me off to a great start and hopefully finish. Thanks.

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Happy to help! Just remember that 10 months old is DEEP into adolescence and, as I always tell my students, all adolescents-humans and dogs alike-are some version of an idiot. You've got a lot of bodily changes, hormone changes, and a thing called "synaptic pruning." It's hard for them and us. Stick with things, be consistent and supportive, and you'll both make it out the other side! Good luck!

[@shanna9579]

I'm a new sub. I like how it's not just a long advertisement for puppy pads and cages like other dog training videos.

[@Malibustacy1982]

Crossing my fingers for a replay on a video posted 3 years ago. We adopted a rescue puppy from a foster about 2 weeks ago. He was 13 weeks when we got him. He is scared of EVERYTHING. He will also bark when outside or when he sees something out there. It's to the point where we have to close the blinds to keep him from constantly barking at a leaf he sees blowing around or a neighbor walking their dog or just doing their own thing at their houses. We love him so much and realize he's still learning as are we, but it's been difficult. Taking him for a walk on a leash started off pretty ok the first time we went. The second time my husband went by himself and he says he got to a certain point and then refused to go any further. He started shaking and crying which is what he does when something new happens (including a time my husband was washing a glass and it squeaked!!!) He just wanted to run back home. Socializing him will help with these problems for him? He is so timid and scared when anyone new comes to our house. He cries the entire time he is in the car. I assume this is something he will learn to be ok with, and I really hope so. I do hope to get a response! Your other videos have been very helpful so far! I spent the first few nights we had time near his kennel while he cried watching your videos and eventually used treats to show him the kennel is a great place to be. He was content in there after 3-4 nights. It was like magic. ha! Thanks for your time Ian!

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

It might be helpful to understand that functional socialization is not necessarily direct interaction between your puppy and new people or things; it can simply be good experiences in proximity to new stimuli, and around novelty. In Scott and Fuller’s seminal work on socialization, "Genetics and the Social Behaviour of the Dog," they discovered that puppies just seeing a person standing passively from the shoulders up behind a barrier did in fact become at least partially socialized to humans. Actual contact with novel humans and things may be optimal, but a lot of benefi t can come from a puppy just observing stuff. Avoid, or work at greater distances from variables you can’t control, such as people you don’t know or who won’t listen to your wishes, and unfamiliar dogs. You can go have lunch in a parking lot and just people watch together. Or go through a drive thru. Or hang out at a soccer game at whatever distance the puppy is comfortable with-whether it’s 10 feet or 100 yards. As much as possible, incorporate engagement games into your socialization plan. Work engagement in a variety of new environments in order to develop a puppy who focuses on you rather than new environments. Remember: your puppy is always learning, so make sure you’re a significant fixture in that learning at all times. Another thing to remember is how important smells are. Dogs relate to their world much more through their sense of smell than any other sense. Dogs prefer to pick up the bulk of their information through scent. A dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times sharper than our own. That’s literally down to the molecular level! Likewise, a dog’s olfactory bulb in their brain-the processing center for decoding scent-is 40 times larger than ours. Essentially that means that your puppy can still get loads of beneficial socialization by seeing things and smelling them while you maintain a safe distance. You can remain fairly far away from other people and situations while your puppy can quite clearly take it all in with that stupendous sense of smell. Good luck!

[@floridalife4]

We have a rescue that we got at 11 weeks. She had a very traumatic start to life. Mom delivered puppies under a pile of trash, puppies and mom rescued at 4 weeks. Our puppy had an infection which resulted in a rear leg amputation, caged for healing time etc, before we got her. Her first weeks were definitely not ideal. She’s the SWEETEST girl, but she gets very nervous and scared outside of home. Initially I was bringing her to work with me, where other employees also bring their dogs. Although she enjoyed playing with the other dogs, she always ran right back under my desk where she felt safe. I stopped taking her to work with me at about 6 months because she just seemed so afraid even walking to the car from the office. Now we are getting a new puppy in a week and I’d like to take this puppy to work for the socialization aspect (he will be 8 weeks). I’m not sure if I should leave my other doggie at home since she’s more comfortable at home (she’s a year old now) and just take the puppy or if that will cause issues between them at home. I dont want my older pup getting jealous that I take the new puppy with me every day. I want the two of them to be close but I don’t want the new puppy to be afraid like the older one. Should I take them both to work and hope that my older puppy adjusts? Just take the new puppy? Or maybe take the new puppy only a couple days a week? I’m hoping the new puppy will help Jenni cone out of her shell and not that she will teach the new puppy to be scared too. Thank you all for any input.

[@katescott8167]

Great videos. Just subscribed. We have an 11 week old German shepherd. Doing puppy school but these videos really help. Will binge watch like it’s a new series just dropped on Netflix!!

[@belle369]

It really is key. I got my dog 8 years ago, she was a tiny baby. We tried to socialize but we did it incorrectly. She would bark and pee and she would jump all over people. It’s cute when they’re little babies, but shes big and strong now and still acts like this. At this point, im the only one in my family with the patience to walk her, and she mainly stays home unless i walk her. I think shes also just really anxious as well. Now we’re getting a new puppy (a Boerboel) and my whole family is trying so hard to learn about proper socialization. We ordered a wagon so the puppy won’t catch any diseases, and we are just going to slowly introduce her to the world.

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

That's awesome! Great example of protected socialization!

[@EvelynDeCobain]

holy shit dudes, I just rescued some pitt mix puppies and one of them is so fearful and agressive! she simply doesn't know how to be with other dogs, and apparently she's 4 months old already so wish me luck! these tips are everything I needed right now thank you thank you thank you!

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

You're welcome! Happy to help!

[@halfpint5892]

On the same page with a rescue myself

[@Jackal_Blitz]

This topic is no joke. I thought I was doing well by taking my puppy to training class, puppy play times, and around town in the car as often as I could. Then, all of a sudden, he lost his mind barking protectively at a lady in the Taco Bell drive thru! Ian is so right in this video - do NOT take any exposure opportunity for granted. You never know what silly little thing will set your dog off.

[@UpsideDown853]

I do understand what the point of this video is and the message you try to bring across. I also agree that socialisation is important, and as said in the interview it is a great opportunity you don't want to miss. I do think though, that too much focus goes into socialisation and too little in confidence building. This is the reason people tend to shy away from rescue dogs, because they feel they are broken and can't be fixed. There is this mindset, that socialisation is limited to a time frame, and that's just not true. Yes, puppies do have an exceptional high potential at their impressionable young age, but it is, as mentioned in the video, an ongoing process. Moreover, if you socialise your puppy well, that window will be open longer. I think numbers are nice in statistics but don't follow them too strictly. Biology isn't rigid. It's not laws, but rather tendencies and guidelines. The most important thing isn't just socialisation but rather giving your dog the confidence to confront new and unknown situations. Building up trust in the relationship and setting up the dog to success is an essential tool for a happy well-mannered dog. Because one day, we might come across an object that didn't exist in puppyhood, or we come across something else that's foreign and it's important that the pup feels safe regardless.

[@bhampatty1]

We will be getting our 8-week-old puppy next week. I knew NOTHING about the importance of socialization. This is such a helpful video, but I sure do feel overwhelmed. Guess I'll watch it a few more times.😁

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Any socialization you're able to do is a million times better than none. I know it can feel daunting, but even doing just a little bit regularly can have a tremendously positive impact.

[@KatieSanvick]

our puppy is almost 14 weeks. he's an irish terrier and we were told socialization is VERY important, he has puppy class on tuesdays so far we've been three times. class starts with monitored off leash play time but he always seems to be frightened and would rather lay under our chairs or sniff dogs than actively play with them. he seems very interested in dogs on leash too, but too wary to play. as class continues it seems like he gains some confidence and wants to play with dogs but by then we've moved on to leashed obedience training so he starts barking at the dogs next to us because we wont allow him to play..he gets pretty worked up with little attention on us. we also do some "puppy massage" in class to get them used to being touched at the vet where we hold them on their backs in our lap and rub their belly and things like that.. our puppy HATES that, he turns into a gremlin. thrashing trying to bite and snarling.. i think it's the environment of puppy class that makes him worked up and not want to listen to us. I dread every tuesday of puppy class but i know its vital to him growing into a sociable dog. will he ever calm down and listen? i know terriers are a stubborn breed but i didn't think it would be like this! he is still very bitey- he was the only pup in his litter and we're worried he hasnt learned bite inhibition propperly, we've tried the yelping, firm no's, time outs, becoming a statue and nothing seems to work.. its almost summer and i'm still wearing pants and a sweatshirt because bare skin around this dog is a dangerous gamble!

[@suebaker6762]

I wish I saw these videos when I got my first puppy. I didn't socialize my puppy because of covid. She definitely had behavior issues because of it. It's been a challenge. She has improved some.

[@brucestone7004]

Ian, "Thanks so much. Like Always, your Production Values, Editing AND Content is Superb. Keep Up the Great Work !

[@jessicapreskow8338]

Wow. I have watched too many videos on how to socialize my pup and how to work through puppy biting. Your videos are by far the most insightful and educational videos I have seen. I am so impressed! Can't wait to watch all your videos. You are so well spoken and so knowledgeable. I have tried saying "oww oww oww" until my puppy stops biting but as I keep saying "oww" his biting continues to get harder and he growls so I just keep my hand there working through the pain!! It hurts! any suggestions on that???

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

That's a good indication that it's new to your puppy and you need to DO IT MORE. Like we said in the biting video ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmebfGiQodWbb7c ) this can take WEEKS to get right. So, you have to keep applying. It's about consistent execution, not "one and done." Also, don't forget to get your puppy off-leash around other puppies and friendly older dogs. They will do this work way faster than humans, and you should do this ASAP (or at least as much as possible with Covid). The other main thing is to set up the environment so that your dog can't follow you. Puppies should have a very small universe to begin with. This is partly to make your management easier, but also so that you can move to where the puppy can't follow. Then, you establish a history of follow through. Puppy bites, you say "Ouch." If your puppy reels it in, praise and continue. If your puppy comes in again, say "OUCH!" If the puppy reels it in, praise and continue. If your puppy comes in again, and/or just gets too intense, you eject, dip out, bail. Play and interactivity completely stop. 60 seconds later, come back and try again. This won't work the 1st time, or the 5th time. But by the 25th or 30th time, now the dots start to connect and your puppy learns to reel it in when they hear "ouch" because they don't want you to leave. Now, they're learning how to develop self-control.

[@silverrick90]

Great video! Bringing home our new border collie pup tomorrow and this video has helped answer a lot of questions! Thank you!

[@jobellecollie7139]

i’ve been meeting with the chief of staff at the two hospitals i go to for treatments. they knew and loved my late service dog and in 2 weeks i’ll be getting my new service dog. i need my new dog to be used to the sounds and smells of these buildings so training and matching will be a success. they have matched on duty staff on different shifts to walk with us in different areas of the hospital. socialization has been a major point in training up to now, but relocating a service dog to match owner, is a tricky time. the fine line i will walk is socializing a service dog to NOT being touched. face palm to the 1000’s of idiots who touched my last service dog and hope the new folks can read and obey the DO NOT TOUCH badges!!!

[@natisloca]

Best KZbin channel about dog training!! This video is probably the best of all! Thanks heaps!

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

You are so kind

[@lekvi8754]

Very helpful as always. I'm planning to get a puppy next year. Considering a Boston terrier. So I'm watching all your videos and reading a lot as well trying to get prepared. :)

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

YAY for Bostons! They're awesome dogs, no doubt. Good luck and thanks for watching!

[@houseasyouseeit]

Camping and training/sitting in the driveway during the school run across the street are great socializing times for us. 😄 Would love to see a video on typical troublesome teenage puppy behaviours! My pup is 6 months so we are starting to see some of that.

[@Jm-mp9mr]

Hey i just wanted to say thank you for providing that link to the article for socialization during this time, I figured that other people had the same question as me and have already asked the question, and you provided with a fantastic article, again thanks for all that you do for the dog training world

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

It is my pleasure. Thank you for the kind feedback!

[@fleureenbarrera1845]

Hi!! I'm a new mom to a 9 wk old Maltese Shih Tzu mix. I'm so happy to have found your channel as you have so many helpful information that I desperately need. We've had our pup only a week now. We took him to the vet last Friday (2 days after we got him from the breeder). He was checked and the doctor declared him to be very healthy - all 1.7 lbs of him! :) .... so after that appointment, he's been coughing/hacking and sounds like he is about to vomit but never does. He is still eating, drinking, and overall the same dog. I contacted the doctor and have advised me to keep him away from any other dogs. I am concerned of missing th critical window of making sure he's socialize amongst other dogs and people. I also dont know "100" people I can introduce him to in the next few weeks. Would like to hear some recommendations please on how I can achieve this. Also, I live in Canada and its winter now so outdoor play is not in the plans yet. Especially with his extra small size, no doggie clothes fit him and he shivers when I've taken him outside. Thank you.

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

In your situation you could still do some protected socialization. Socialization situations don't necessarily all have to be direct contact. Getting off the property and having a good experience in proximity to new things is still very good work. You don't even need to leave the car if it's cold. Just go places and look at new things out the window. Park at stores and people watch. Go through drive-thrus. Get on the freeway. Be upbeat, peppy, play with some toys while you're there (parked, of course), feed them lots of goodies for Classical Conditioning, and just try to do as much as you can think of without having to see dogs. At least you can even put him in a cart and truck through a hardware store or something to meet people! That's still powerful stuff that most people don't do. Good luck! Hope he feels better soon!

[@robinsmith628]

I have a 14 wk old BLK lab mix I adopted from the shelter. She is extremely loving but has aggressive "frenzies", biting, usually before she goes down for a nap.I try to make sure she gets enough activity outdoors as we're re in the country, but she won't get to puppy classes til May. I hope it's not too late. She knows people but no dogs. I kept her isolated until I got her Parvo shot, I didn't know, but I know now. Thank you.

[@TuffTitties4U]

I just want to say thank you for this video. I have been so focused on training that I completely neglected the importance of this. I will continue to do my homework, but your video has given me a head-start on what steps to take to ensure I'm doing the best by my puppy (coming in 2020 - we are getting prepared!). I HIGHLY recommend that you continue to make videos regarding this theme as most dog owners are totally unaware of how to do this appropriately and it's importance in having a well adjusted dog. On behalf of dogs Worldwide thank you for informing their human owners. Hopefully it will make a difference in the lives of many dogs! It's strange how this is NOT emphasized with any importance when reading training books.

[@krisnuyts3470]

We are getting our berner pup in 2 weeks. I was under the impression she should be socialized in a secure surrounding because of the risk of getting a sickness. After watching this video I have to reschedule my being at home with her to get her through as much social stimuli as possible, but I know now it will pay off in the end.

[@CommanderKei]

I'm picking up a new puppy in a little less than 3 weeks and I'm collecting knowledge on things to remember when it comes to socialization. I'm also writing a little "guide" to myself and family members/friends so everything will be consistent and so I remember everything I need to do in the early weeks.

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

That is a fantastic idea! LOVE IT! I wish all my puppy parents did that!

[@funkywolf2403]

Places to socialize a puppy: Hobby lobby Home Depot/Lowe’s Puppy classes Training classes Outdoor malls Flea markets Market days Parks/dog parks TJ max? Pet stores Ross Outdoor patios Puppy play dates Fireworks,parades Vet Academy? Baspro outdoor world Feed store (like tractor supply)

[@ellanesius4608]

This is great stuff! I link this video to many puppy clients.

[@saraingram7236]

Hi! Wondering if you had any tips for socialization during these strange quarantine times!! Thank you in advance!

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Great question! Puppy Culture wrote a phenomenal article on the subject. Very thorough and well-written. Check it out: www.puppyculturestories.com/read/socializing-puppies-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

Socialization for you, the pack leader, is an added bonus

[@deannab3290]

Thank you for this video! Getting a puppy in a few days, I’ve watched many other videos and tried researching on my own, but kept getting conflicting information. This video helped clear things up. We will check with our vet, too, but again...thanks!

[@AllFormsElectronic]

Diaaaaamond - "Dogs don't grow OUT of things, in fact, they grow INTO things. Take control!" Yessir! fookin love that.

[@GT4JB]

:Love the tips, got a new pup and been avoiding any socialization. Thx we can begin some simple exposure stuff for now

[@fitdad2b992]

Love the video. Showing the backed research and interviews really solidified the info.

[@rr-wz3cd]

Thanks for this video and all of your content. You have a gift for organizing, presenting, and explaining.I will be bringing home a new puppy next week and have been devouring as much content as possible. Thanks to your channel and others similar, I have come to understand just how important early socialization is and wish I had been as informed seven years ago when we brought home our Miniature Schnauzer. He is the sweetest dog in the world, but suffers from reactivity when in public. Have been working on him and making slow progress, but had we just done this as a puppy.Thanks again and please keep the quality content coming!

[@floridalife2800]

I am pretty sure this is my fav PUP channel. Subscribed!

[@peppermintspicelatte]

I'm so grateful for these videos, and other positive reinforcement trainer videos on KZbin. Wish y'all were around when I raised my last dog! I had read Dr. Ian Dunbar's "philosophy" (I should have thought of it as science!) and followed it, but not very well. I'm so excited for my puppy next month with so much I have been learning. :) And these videos just give me an extra confidence boost on my knowledge!!! Thank you so much for the time and effort you have spent on these.

[@seymour1407]

This was SO helpful and informative. Thank you!

[@melb5467]

Ugh! My vet told me with both my puppy’s who are a year apart to not take them near any other dogs until they were fully vaccinated. It makes so much sense now why my older dog is so fearful of dogs and the little one is over excited around them!!

[@kkombat]

Hi there, Ian. Love all your videos; you have a great voice, provide excellent examples (repetition is key, right?), and do not try to fit so many things into your videos that they become hard to digest. My fiance and I are foster parents for the Wisconsin Humane Society, and we usually do cat/kittens. We've decided to adopt a puppy from the shelter, and were very excited to bring her home. Unfortunately, her, her momma, and 7 siblings tested positive for distemper at about 6 weeks old (3ish weeks after they first arrived from somewhere down south). After several tense weeks the pups have been cleared to go to foster homes to continue recovery (they are still actively shedding the virus), and we will be taking in our soon-to-be foster fail, Opal, and one of her siblings to foster. There are many restrictions that come with fostering a dog that is actively shedding the distemper virus, one of the major ones is extremely limited socialization parameters. We want to continue the work that Opal's first foster family started and provide her and her sibling much needed exposure to things/situations/people, but cannot under any circumstances expose them to dogs and limited exposure to people that will go home to their own dogs. This is all precautionary so as not to spread this extremely contagious disease, obviously, and we will be following all of your socialization recommendations that we can ... but is there anything we can do to help give them a better chance at being socialized given the situation?

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Great question. You would likely be doing the "protected socialization" where your work would mainly be about being in proximity to new things without being in direct contact. I think many people are under the impression that "socialization" means that you have to be right in the thick of things, and you certainly don't. Just being near novel sights and sounds and having a good experience is often enough. It's still very productive work. This will allow you to control the interaction level (for pathogen control) as well as control the intensity of the experience if it turns out to be kind of spooky. So just go places, look and listen to things, and have a nice time with treats, toys, praise...and then leave. Simple work you can do almost anywhere. Hope that helps!

[@xray606]

I have a whippet in his 7th month. It was difficult because I'm currently renting and in a very large city. I under estimated the issues I would have in this situation, but so far it has gone fairly well. The biggest problem has been his habit of eating stuff off the ground. You don't realize how filthy a city is until you have a dog that eats everything. But socially, what I did from the very start, was carry him back to a quiet residential street, and just sit with him on my lap. He would see other people walk by with their dogs... cars... trucks... lawn mowers. Some people would stop, some wouldn't. But he got exposed to all kinds of people, machines, dogs, and other things. Then I moved up to sitting on the main larger street... Just between buildings at first. I kept him off the ground, because of the vaccination situation. I only let him walk in very low traveled areas. I decided to NOT take him to any classes, only because he showed zero signs of any social issues. He loves everyone and has pretty much no fears. There's many classes around here, but most of them seem like a big free for all. I felt like the chance of a negative experience was high, and since he was fine already, I didn't want to risk it. Unfortunately he did end up getting attacked by a large dog on his first trip to a park. It made him nervous for a week or so, but he bounced back. I'd like to take all credit, but I think he's just a social dog. Funny thing is, he still now likes going back to those first spots we used to sit at, and we still just sit and watch things.

[@adriannascavulli5765]

All of your videos have been so helpful and insightful. Thank you for doing what you do!

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

You are so welcome!

[@advancingeducation7360]

I grew up not far from you, but I live now in SoCal. I work with puppies every day in my work as a Veterinary Assistant for the past year and a half. I do like your videos and advice. Even the advice that appears progressive compared to conventional wisdom. It appears that experience will trump knowledge and teachings. I see hundreds of dogs a week and try to give training, behavior advise as I can. Can you send me some business cards for your KZbin channel?

[@WhereDogsThrive]

Advancing Education Where in So Cal are you? I'm always looking for more progressive and naturopathic Vets to recommend to clients. I'm in So Cal too.

[@advancingeducation7360]

Nicole N, I live in LA area. I work for a society that is humane. They are touchy about social medias. Are you part of this organization?

[@WhereDogsThrive]

Advancing Education I don't get out to LA much anymore. I'm over in the O.C. area now.

[@shae7555]

We waited like that with our family dog and they have had so many issues, so when I got my own dog I’ve been socializing him since day 1. He has his parvo shot luckily by now anyways.

[@treeman5263]

Thank you so much for mentioning parvovirus I was so troubled because I bought into the notion not to socialize tell fully vaccinated and no trainers on KZbin mentioned the parvo thing and just said to socialize every. But now I know that it’s a myth and not to worry about parvo to much thanks.

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Well Parvo is still something to be concerned about. The takeaway is that you shouldn't NOT socialize your pup because of the fear of it. There are ways to protect and be cautious and still socialize effectively.

[@lildragon6415]

I unfortunately let my puppy (first time dog owner) have too much fun playing with other dogs and he is now obsessed with them. I now have to train him to listen to me when he sees another dog because he just wants to run at them and play. It's taking a lot of work to fix that problem now.

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

True story. This is at the heart of most reactivity. Good luck! Get a good local trainer involved to help you!

[@annieopdahl7521]

Thank you so much Ian, for your orderly, fun and information-packed videos. We plan on getting a puppy and I’m learning as much as I can ahead of time. I observed a drop-in puppy play group today at the local Humane Society. It was pretty much just an incredibly cute free-for all. There were 20 puppies and the trainer kept an eye on things, separating them on either side of a little fence based on size/energy, but otherwise no training or intervention. The puppies were SUPER rowdy, but all seemed to be having a good time. Under these circumstances, how would you suggest an owner use that time to train their own puppy while still letting them join in the fun?

[@evandoug90]

Love the focus on the science, thanks!

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

You're welcome! Happy to help!

[@DeathxDefied]

Thank you so much for this video (and all the others on your channel as well)!! I adopted a pup about a week ago and I've been working with her on some of this stuff. She's mostly doing really well, but I struggle with things like her getting fixated on other dogs or things. Can you give any more specific advice on how to teach the dog not to become obsessed with other dogs or distractions in the environment? What is the best way to approach training them to still respond to you when you need them to? Thanks again!!

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Hey there! The best way I've found is to make sure the play sessions are managed and you're not the only one working on your dog. So 1) we do mandatory settle downs every five minutes. Just hold the collar, talk quietly and calmly, and reward them for choosing to stay with you and downshift gears; 2) during the five minute active sessions we dig DEEP and do single-serving training exercises that are rewarded with food (initially) and getting to rejoin the play group. Think like single sits, or downs, or 3 second stays, or call-aways from the group. This typically starts out pretty rough but improves over time and the dogs learn to divide their attention and shift it where it's supposed to be. A lot of good public habits develop here. If you're on your own, then do a lot of good practice rehearsing those things in a variety of environments, and then incorporate it into the encounters. Basically, your dog's opportunities to socialize are in direct proportion to how engaged they are with you. A dog that blows you off needs to work at distance whereas a dog that will come to you out of the group gets lots of time playing. Hope that helps!

[@DeathxDefied]

Thank you so much for the response and advice! That sounds like a really good plan and I will definitely try these things. Love your videos!

[@1karmasky]

Thanks you! So glad I clicked and subscribed, already have benefited from some great insights, particularly regarding puppy biting. Cheers!

[@racheallove523]

Perfect timing for this video just what I needed. Thank you.

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

You're welcome!

[@ban2700651]

Unfortunately, the breeder of our new puppy was only person coming in contact with puppy and about 6 other dogs. They were kenneled way from house with a run and a small yard. We purchased him at 5 mths. of age and for the first two weeks, my husband and I were totally exhausted and thinking we may have to return puppy. Since I'm not one to give up easily, although exhausted from constantly having to remove puppy from chewing, eating rugs, cords, paper, books whatever he could reach. I had not had a puppy to train for over 20 yrs. We had rescued a 2 yr. old dog that was completely trained, with the exception of humping - dominance issues. So, when we decided to get another one like him when he died from cancer, we looked for some time as this particular breed is not readily accessible locally, an American Eskimo standard male puppy. We found this one in a nearby state. He is purebred but no papers. Instead of returning, the hyperactive into everything & eating everything in site in home and yard, we removed rugs, lamp and anything we felt would be harmful to him and we treasured. We also enrolled him in a one month - M-F 8:30-3:30 into Mandeville Canine Academy for socialization and 5 basic command training. After 2 1/2 weeks, he's doing well with socialization and actually looks forward to going to school. Before his tail was tucked, his ears down and extremely frighty. I'm so glad we found Ted Carlson and his new academy. We're beginning to see light at the end of the nightmare of the first two weeks. He still has a lot to learn for basic obedience 5 commands, hopefully, this will happen in his last week and a half along with our follow-up work with our cute, funny clown puppy. I'm sorry we weren't able to get him earlier. We're hoping he'll be as well-mannered as our past rescue and many years of great companionship. Ted recommended your site for which I am truly grateful. Thanks for helping us senior citizens get into the groove of a new puppy. Babs 2

[@TinaJackson]

Hi Ian, thanks so much for all this valuable information!! I have been binge watching/listening to your videos for an entire day now. We just got our standard poodle puppy this past Friday, so we're 5 days in. I realized after looking over the Finn's (puppy) paperwork and his vet visit overview, that he was born on June 11th. That makes him 8 weeks old as of Monday!! So we definitely got him a little early I think. Anyway...he is having major issues with biting, which I can handle and it seems to be working pretty good unless he's in his "tasmanian devil" state, then I have to put him in his playpen with his chew toys. I do walk away at times, depending on where we are at the time. The real concern I have is about his "playing" is because we have an elderly Shih Tzu who my husband owned prior. He said he was great with puppies and it should be fine and it was the first two days. Now however, Finn wants to play and kind of rough with pouncing and such and Bear (Shih Tzu) isn't having it, at all, ever! He always gives him a warning growl, and lunges at him but never nips. Do I intervene or let them work it out?? Thanks!!

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Hi Tina. Yeah, you've got to kind of be the "traffic cop" in the house. Follow the puppy and give a running commentary on how Finn is doing. Gently steer him somewhere else or onto something else when he's too crazy, even if he comes right back. It's a matter of attrition with this. On the side, though, get into off-leash socials and/or classes ASAP because other puppies will soften that stuff way faster than you can (and socialize to boot!). No matter what, though, it's gonna be a long haul for both you and your Shih Tzu. Chin up, and keep working!

[@bonnielofgren8145]

I took my pup(11weeks old) to our local community pond to socialize, he was current on shots, he actually set to have his 12 week shots the next Friday, 3 days before his appointment, he caught parvo, a very expensive vet bill and 6 days later, we are back to normal but now I'm worried taking him out until his shots, because his shots for 12 weeks are now pushed back for almost 3 weeks. He was not socialize before picking our pup up, so at 9 weeks, he never been around nothing or anyone but the parents owners and puppy mates.

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

You can still do some protected socialization. As long as you're exposing your pup to novel stimuli, you don't have to have direct contact. It's not as good in some cases, but 1000x better than nothing! Take a look at this article for some more ideas: www.puppyculturestories.com/read/socializing-puppies-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic

[@brianaroberts3512]

I loved this video! I appreciate the research and thoughtfulness. I also like that you say it like it is. That said, I feel like I am starting behind the curve. I got my pup 2 weeks ago (10 weeks old) and have been taking her everywhere. The problem is that until that point she had never even been in the front yard at the breeders house. Am I already behind the curve?

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

You're a little behind the curve, but you can still make up for lost time at 10 weeks. Just get on it and try to make as many good experiences as possible. Remember: all the experiences don't necessarily need to include direct interaction. Just being in proximity to new things is usually good enough to start. Good luck!

[@rebeccawatson6515]

Love love love this. Is it ok to share on my clubs website? We are volunteers and NFP Club Great info for all the new students we will get in June

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Absolutely! Share away!

[@hollyvedova316]

Thank you so much for these videos!! These are so incredibly helpful!

[@emiliebouchard5594]

Oh goodness, I get it now! We tried our best with socialization and I think we did a good job for the most part. But our girl tends to be possessive of toys and maybe it's because she was never able to play with toys with other dogs (it was always without toys), so maybe she never learned how to do it properly? Which is too bad now because I get so anxious when she is with other dogs and someone brings a toy..

[@RusticNatureReimagined]

Awesome advice

[@sajero2]

This is so helpful, thank you!

[@thewanderingmariner]

Great video. 11 week old puppy and this will help alot.

[@resco001]

Whatching your video make me a lot less stressed about welcoming our first puppy.

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Awesome!

[@letaki989]

Hi Ian, that was a very interesting video. I am the owner of an undersocialized 4 year old female maltese dog, and even though we are going on very long walks daily (between 7-10 km) and meet other dogs constantly she restlessly loves to bark at each and every single dog we meet. The bigger the dog in size, the stronger fixation the barking and the pulling. We are working with a dog trainer over the past months and we are doing exercises such as to keep her focused on us and not on her surroundings by tagging her collar proactively when she loses focus or fixates on another dog. At times where the barking has already started, because of a dog that she saw before us, we distract her by quickly touching her belly. These techniques seem to work slowly with time, patience and consistency. However, I was wondering if you have any other techniques & literature that you would recommend? Perhaps it would be nice to have a full video on dog aggression against other dogs due to undersocialization. Thanks in advance.

[@KB-gk2nc]

Question and also soooo helpful! Thanks so much. Your videos are great, easy to understand, nice to look at, and you provided research too in this one. Much appreciated. I will be getting a puppy soon, I’ve had dogs and understand the importance of socializing them now after seeing how they grew up lol. But can you show praising puppies after taking them to socialize in diff settings / circumstances?

[@wendynault2303]

I have a new puppy. He is almost 10 weeks old. I just watched the socialization video. I want to get him out but he does not like the car. He cries and sometimes throws up. What should I do?

[@Thelady30]

So I just adopted a dog that I found on the streets. He is about two years old and the week that he spent in the shelter that I brought him to they said that he is aggressive towards other dogs. Do you think that socializing a dog at this age is impossible? I’ve been doing things little by little with him. For example when we go on walks there’s so many other dogs in the neighborhood. He seems to be more aggressive towards bigger dogs. There are some big dogs in the neighborhood that are gentle giants. Usually they are behind a fence or gate so I just let them sniff each other out. I’ve only had this new dog for about two weeks. I brought him to a public park were there a lot of people also walking their dogs. I want him to be social and I’m willing to be super patient and constant about it.

[@MillennialMedicine]

So I’m getting a puppy in 5 weeks. Our current dog is a mutt, some sort of Chihuahua/poodle mix and she is very... well a bitch. Lol I’m worried that she will give some of her tendencies to the new puppy. For the past 6 months we have been taking our dog to the dog park and she is getting better, still nervous about the whole thing. I want them to socialize together but for the puppy to not be fearful. Our older dog was a rescue, about 12-18 months when I got her, now she is about 6 years old so there are some behaviors I have tried training out of her but most of her underlying behaviors are from when she was a puppy. Thanks!

[@Friendlyneighborhoodspiderdad]

My puppy is pretty good at listening to me when there are people around. When I call him he usually comes. When it’s with other dogs it’s very difficult to get him to come to me even with treats.

[@SavageThrifter]

Ugh this is WAY MORE to know and do. I had no idea

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

It's OK! It can seem overwhelming. Take it a piece at a time. Socialization is very important, but don't feel like you have to check off a list of 500 things. Just letting your puppy observe novel things and situations with you there for support is very powerful. If your puppy's feeling it, do more. If they're unsure, don't push it; come back later. With puppies, practice makes perfect. So let them play and explore -as long as you're there to prevent potential problems. Good luck! You got this! :)

[@aceslifestyle7451]

That background beat is from Lil Wayne's Gotta Lotta 👌 good song and thanks for the advices, they are becoming really handy with my new puppy Ace. Greetings from Miami, FL.

[@kifurai]

wished i watched it before i got my puppy! i was too afraid about diseases (there's a lot of strays in my area, also parvo and distemper is quite often found in them). So i didnt take my puppy out til she's 4m.o, though after that she made friends with other dogs, i can see how she's more shy/hesitant than other dogs :/

[@jazminortiz6697]

I love the information provided in these videos! I'm not so much a puppy owner, my girl is 2 years old now. But her owner was elderly and unable to train her. Since he has passed we have taken ownership of her but currently, share a space with two other large dogs. She has a great temperament with people, but larger dogs make her alert and bring out negative behaviors. Do you have any suggestions on how to handle her since she's a bit older? We don't want to give her up just because she wasn't trained on how to handle other dogs. I've been doing research like crazy on how to handle a lot of her behaviors and have found so much amazing information in your videos.

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Hi Jazmin. My first strategy would be to use Differential Classical Conditioning. I have a PDF on that on my website. You can find it in this article that goes into greater detail as well: www.simpawtico-training.com/understanding-classical-conditioning/

[@lauraleegraham1026]

DESPERATELY NEED ADVICE! I have been saving my penny’s and doing my research for over two years and now I am the lucky owner of the cutest sweetest female Toy Schnauzer ever. We got her when she was 14 weeks only (Due to her small size) and she turned 6 months last week. She goes everywhere with me and seemed to be doing fine until about a month ago she started growling at people and has snapped at a few too. She is very small (3.8lbs) so her snaps are almost comical. However I don’t want her to be “that dog” that no one likes. WHEN PEOPLE SEE HER THEY ALWAYS ASK “Can I pet her?” I don’t know how to answer. Some people are fine others set her off. How do I help her???

[@rebeccabaker5779]

Hi Ian! Your videos are awesome and so helpful. I have a question for you. My puppy is 10 weeks old and I want to socialize him with other people but he hasn’t walked on a leash in a very distracted environment (only at home through the house) or sit before people pet him. Should I hold him while they pet him? Put him on a leash and have him interact with people even if he doesn’t sit before they pet him? If he pulls on the leash while they pet him is it hurting the progress we have made with his loose leash walking at home? He knows how to sit and stay and I can try to do that, but with all the distractions I’m not sure he would be 100% succsssful. Your advice and expertise is so appreciated! Thank you!

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Hi Rebecca. Depends what your hardware is. I usually train all dogs to not pull on a collar, and then if/when they go out into the world before they're ready we use a harness. It's ok if they pull into the harness because it doesn't interfere with the work on the collar. Definitely, though, the socialization is a way more time sensitive and important thing to work on than the walking. I think it's amazing that you're working on walking in the home first, but definitely allow the socialization to the priority. Holding him or allowing them to interact without the sit first is just fine. If he's pulling on the leash, then either make sure he's on different hardware or run your legs over there. I wouldn't be too concerned with the sit-stay right yet. That needs proofing at home first anyways and better to have a positive interaction with people than to miss it because you were fiddling with obedience. Get the socialization, and then layer your obedience in gradually. Hope that helps!

[@shaunabevacqua860]

maybe this is a silly question but I'm about to be a brand new puppy mom and wanna get this socialization stuff right! Between the 1st and 2nd round of vaccinations, when socialization has to be protected, you mention carrying the pup/driving to new places or standing a bit at a distance of the stimuli. But what about potty breaks? How can I safely let my new pup go potty while we're out on these protected socialization trips, especially when they have to go every hour (or less!)? I should mention that I live in a city so anything walking distance will be generally public area, and if I want to find secluded spaces I'll still be driving for at least 20-30 minutes. Also, love your videos they have been a huge help to me as I absorb as much puppy knowledge as possible.

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Yeah, that's going to be tough. If you don't have a semi private area where you can control what animals are walking through, you'll probably want to avoid the ground in public spaces at least until the second shot (and even then, limited contact during potty breaks). All it would take is for one schmuck to allow their unvaccinated dog with parvo to poop in the area, and then it's bad news. It's not ideal potty training-and I hate pads-but you may need to do something less than ideal until you can hit your outdoor training harder. If you have some little semi private courtyard or something? Or put pads down over the ground for right now and still do outdoor training? City living is always a layer of complication.

[@shaunabevacqua860]

Simpawtico Dog Training thanks for the reply! We’ve settled with using a combo of puppy pads and a grass patch on our patio for now, with short trips around the neighbourhood.

[@chrisvtv2598]

SO USEFUL. THANK YOU

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

You're welcome!

[@cyndisherwood3538]

Great video, but now I'm worried. Got our lab puppy at 12 weeks and found out after a few days she had a triple bacterial infection. She's been on antibiotics for a week and now has to have a second round for another week. This has delayed her 12 week shots and will push back her final set up puppy shots by another couple weeks. Because of the severity of the infections (one is coccidia) to her and her possibly making other puppies ill, the vet instructed us to keep her to home or very protected environs until she is off antibiotics and gets her final shots. So we will be hitting the 15-16 week stage before we can begin puppy play class and training it seems. Really stressing about missing my socialization window with her. Still working on training (name, chew toys, sit, and crate), but could use some advice and I guess reassurance I haven't doomed the poor thing! LOL

[@mlriley51]

Unfortunately, my puppy gets car sick and the car sickness medication the vet prescribed could not be given to my puppy until 4 months old. The 1st few trips we took him on to the pet store 15 minutes away resulted in him throwing up multiple times and required a bath when we got home. The vet did prescribe him medication at 15 weeks, but he threw up his 1st pill, so we could not take him out that day. Our next try was somewhat successful and he did not throw up, but he still drooled like crazy. We live out in the country, so any contact with people and animals away from home requires a trip in the vehicle. He is now 4 months old and I’m hoping its not too late to socialize him. Do you have any suggestions or tips for those of us who have puppies/dogs who get car sick? Thank you!

[@UniqueAngelnDiguise]

I would definitely love an answer to this

[@lorihoffman6150]

When let puppy loose to run and exercise. Puppies eating rocks, leaves, poop, everything in backyard- what to do? How much exercise does a 10, 11 and12 week puppy need? How do they get the exercise if they don’t have a yard? I heard they need 18 hours of sleeping in their crate, until what age? When do they need less time in Crate sleeping? When puppies have the zoomies - let them or stop them ? Sometimes puppy just get too hyper... what to do with all this energy and he listens and calms down when using food to train - working on place - he’s very good but obviously won’t hold it yet for long periods - So basically my question is he needs to be in the crate all the time when we’re not training or playing with him? And what can we do if we don’t have a yard and he has all this energy just keep putting him back in the crate? After training in the morning and in the middle of the day and at night? THANK YOU so Much in advance- I watch and LOVE all your videos - you are greatly appreciated!!

[@anitapage9260]

Can you please do a video on how to socialise during quarantine

[@SimpawticoDogTraining]

Great question! Puppy Culture wrote a phenomenal article on the subject. Very thorough and well-written. Check it out: www.puppyculturestories.com/read/socializing-puppies-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic

[@paulvideo05]

best advice

[@sethtaing8080]

You're the best!! Thanks ma man

[@williamn8512]

I'm getting a SBT next year, as a pup. I'm a bachelor and live alone and while I can give a dog all the time it needs (I work from home) and intend training and excercising it plenty (that won't be a problem). I'm worried that walking it once a day out in the world won't be enough to socialise it thoroughly. I want my dog to have ZERO aggression to both humans and other dogs, but at the same time to have ZERO fear of humans and other dogs. So, even though I have no need to - is it an idea to maybe to put it into a doggy day care center maybe once a week or so just for the specific reason of it meeting other dogs and people under a controlled situation to keep it well socialised?