If you ask many dog owners how they can socialize their dogs, you might get a response that involves raised eyebrows and a puzzled look. The definition of the word “socialization” is: “the process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society.”

So, doesn’t socialization even apply to dogs? I guess you don’t want your dog to attack other dogs in public, so that makes sense. And you don’t want your dog to bite the hand that feeds it, which is you.

Am I Even Ready For Dog Training With My Canine?

You may think about other challenges with dog training lessons that you may not be ready for. How do I find the right trainer for my dog?

Is private training the best option, or could group classes be better? Do I just want my dog to learn the basics, or do I want it to acquire advanced skills? And will I even know it if my dog develops a behavior that isn’t healthy?

If training is the answer, how and when should you socialize your dog? And is it something that is a one-time thing that shapes them into a pet that behaves in a way that is acceptable to society?

Taking Charge Of How Your Dog Develops

Social skills for humans and dogs are very different. Don’t dogs just adapt and develop their own coping and behavioral skills and learn to sit or lie down on their own?

The short answer is no.

If you want your canine pet to live a healthier and happier life, it should be a priority to take an active role in developing its social skills from the first day you own it.

A Well-rounded Pet That Will Stick Around

Perhaps you don’t have time to develop your dog’s social skills, or maybe you just don’t want to put in the effort.

Whatever the situation may be, there is a path to have a more well-rounded dog and to have plenty of time for your own life – by hiring a dog trainer.

Professional dog trainers help dogs to be more well-rounded around you and other people if they must spend time at home while you are at work, and around other dogs when in social settings.

When Should Your Dog Begin Socialization Training?

There is an old adage that says: “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” While it is more challenging to work to train dogs in socialization techniques who are older, it can be done. It just takes longer to do so than with a puppy.

Dog trainers

can improve your dog’s social skills, but it helps improve the success of the endeavor if the training starts early. Dog trainers recommend that you start the training when puppies are around one month old.

It’s easier to prevent bad habits in a dog than it is to break them. Working with a dog-training business early can prevent problem behaviors. Your trainer will offer advice and even a package that will work best for your dog.

Once a trainer learns what your definition of a socialized dog is, the education can begin!

Socialization Is A Partnership Between Dog Owners And Trainers

You’ve found a dog trainer that you like and you’re ready to turn your puppy over for socialization training. There is just one thing, though.

You don’t turn your puppy over for dog training.

You develop an ongoing partnership for your training with one goal: A course for helping your puppy become a happy, healthy dog that will feel comfortable at home and wherever you may take it. Look at it like this teaching partnership will be an education for you and your dog.

Communication Is The Key

While your dog trainer will create a personalized socialization plan for you and your pet, it will be a team effort. Once your trainer is confident that your dog is on the right track to being socialized, it will be time for you to take the lead with your training.

As you and your dog trainer work with your pet, communication is important. Since your dog will be spending more time at home with you, pay attention to how your dog reacts to dog training exercises.

Something that may seem normal to you might be a sign of concern to dog trainers. Take notes that you can review with your trainer to ensure that training is progressing as planned.

Going Slow Is The Way To Socialization

Older dogs who have experienced neglect or abuse often struggle with becoming socialized with other humans and dogs. However, it is just as important to socialize younger canines slowly.

Trainers plan socialization programs based on slowly building trust and confidence. This helps to reduce fear and anxiety in reactive dogs, which increases the success of socialization.

When owners reinforce the learning steps and operant conditioning is implemented by trainers when pets are at home, it increases the chances of having a calm, socialized pet for a lifetime.

A Controlled Environment Helps Socialize Dogs

It’s a brand new world for puppies. The transition from a world of darkness to…everything…lights, sounds, people and other dogs.

Life for an adult dog that hasn’t been socialized can also be full of new experiences. Humans often have a fear of the unknown, and the same can be said for dogs.

That is another reason a certified dog trainer can have more success with socializing a dog over trying to do it alone. Trainers have controlled environments that allow dogs to be socialized in a way that helps them overcome a fear of the unknown.

And if a certain aspect of a dog’s training causes negative responses, a dog trainer can eliminate or alter the exercise or equipment. When you control where and how a dog is trained, it increases the probability of a more well-rounded dog.

Trainers Know How To Create Neutral Environments

Controlled environments are important when training dogs to have a socially balanced life. But what about neutral environments? What are they and how do they impact a dog’s social training?

A controlled environment is a setting where trainers limit the sights, sounds, and stimuli that a dog will encounter. That environment will change as a dog advances in its social training.

A neutral environment is one where there are no positive or negative characteristics or features. Walking your dog alone is an example of this. Another is a quiet day or evening at home with your dog.

Owners often take their pets to dog parks for some outdoor exercise. This might not be the best environment for younger and older dogs because they are forced into an active environment with dogs of all breeds and sizes.

Neutral environments provide a chance to socialize with other dogs and people on their own terms.

How Long Does It Take To Socialize My Dog?

Your $64,000 question may be: “How long will it take to socialize my dog?”

You might have more luck asking if we are ever going to achieve world peace on our planet or whether meteorologists will truly ever be able to predict the weather 100% of the time.

Every breed is different, as well as every dog within a particular breed. There is no one-size-fits-all type of socialization training program. And a socialization program can often change as a trainer learns about a dog’s issues.

Dog Training Is A Marathon, Not A Sprint

It is the goal of dog training to get to the point where owners can take over working with their dogs alone. When socialization training becomes ingrained in a dog, then owners can continue following the program at home.

That doesn’t mean that a dog owner will never have contact with their dog trainer. If new behaviors or problem behaviors arise that change a dog’s daily routine (like a move to a new home, a baby or new pet arriving, or a new job), more work with a dog trainer may be necessary.

When you choose a professional to help with dog training lessons and training techniques, you enter into a partnership. As you depend on them to use their professional private training to create the socialization program, they will also count on you to continue your training at home with positive reinforcement, no matter how many dogs you may have.

Fortunately, when they’re a puppy in their formative years, you can promote lifelong good behavior and curb undesirable traits so you two — and the rest of the items in your home — have a happy life together.

Ultimately, you’ll want to teach your pet some basic cues and establish a solid foundation early on. Luckily, you can begin teaching good manners and all the basics in training sessions as soon as you bring your pup home, usually at eight weeks old.

Why Train at All

Well, first and foremost, puppy training when your pooch is young reduces stress for you and them. They’ll understand the behaviors to exhibit and know the ones to avoid. You’ll prevent accidents inside the home and keep your furniture intact. You can also prevent an incident with your pet being more ‘jumpy’ than it should be toward the company. 

Though it’s a dog’s instinct to bark, especially when they want to alert you of a potential danger, you can teach them the appropriate times to voice their opinion. This is especially the case since they may bark when they want your attention, which may be more prevalent when they’re not mentally or physically engaged. Through training, your puppy can learn when an appropriate time is to bark, so as not to disrupt your household or bother your neighbors.

Puppy training when your doggo is young will make it easier for them to handle as they grow. And if you plan on taking your pet places, whether to parks, on car rides, trips, etc., you’ll find your pet will be more manageable with the proper training. Furthermore, they’ll exhibit positive behaviors and be well socialized so bringing them places is joyous for you, them, and anyone else around, including other canines.

Why Train When They’re Young

For one, the puppy years are fun to watch, as your little ball of fur tackles new tasks and learns new things. However, they’re full of energy, possibly teething (depending on their age), potty training, and learning through play. Sometimes, this spells out disaster for your home, and if they’re a barker, it may mean quite a bit of noise and chaos. 

You obviously want to adjust problematic behaviors early accordingly to keep items in your home safe, prevent your rambunctious little guy or girl from jumping on everyone, and ensure the nuisance noises remain at a minimum. You’re also helping them exhibit desirable behaviors for the rest of their lives, which helps to make your bond with them strong. 

Besides intervening early for the sake of you and them, mentally, there’s a reason to train young. Your pup’s brain is wired to absorb a wealth of knowledge at this stage. At this point in their lives, their brains can form new connections quickly and rapidly, making it a prime time to teach them good behaviors and tricks.

Though genetics plays a role, certain aspects of their personality and temperament develop when they’re young. As a result, getting them socialized, used to being alone, and emotionally resilient overall best happens when they’re in the first year of life.

Some Training Tips

With so many things on your checklist to teach your pet, you may not know where to begin. These are some tips to help you get started:

Potty Training 

Pet urine soaks into hardwood, and the smell is difficult to get rid of in carpeting, so it’s important to start potty training ASAP, right after you bring your little barking bundle of joy home. Take them outside or to the potty pad, ideally every three hours. Schedule potty breaks after they eat meals or drink a great deal, once they wake up, and right before bed.

After every time they make potty on the pad or outside, reward them with one of the following:

• A small low-calorie treat, like store-bought treats, baby carrots, homemade peanut butter bites, or low-fat and low-sodium cheese (in moderation) 
• Pets and praise
• Playtime

Understand the signs your pet has to go to the bathroom to help them prevent accidents, such as:

• Sniffing the floor, looking for a place to go
• Pacing
• Walking in circles to find a spot

These are times to interrupt and take them outside or to the pad.

Once they get accustomed to the routine, you may notice other signs, including:

• Barking or whimpering
• Standing near the door
• Restlessness/anxiety

Try to have a feeding schedule when potty training, so they regulate their digestive tract, and you can establish a bathroom schedule easier. Avoid overnight accidents when they’re potty training by picking up their water dish about two hours before bed.

Moreover, never punish your pup for accidents because this can worsen the problem. Instead, reward the good to help them learn.

Crate Training

If you plan on crate training Fido as part of your puppy training, purchase a crate large enough for them to stand up, turn around, and lie in comfortably. Ensure the crate is a comfortable, non-boring place for them to remain by placing a bed or blanket down first and adding some toys.

When you first start crate training, let your pooch explore it at their leisure. Leave it open or remove the crate door. Let them enter and exit, sniff around, and possibly even lay on the comfy bed. Never rush the process, or they could associate negative feelings with it.

If they’re uninterested in the crate, lure them in with puppy treats. But, never close the door instantly. Instead, give them time.

Once your pup is in the crate and has had time to acclimate, give your pooch some positive reinforcement. After you let them out of the crate when they’re using it regularly, go for a walk with them so they have an opportunity to stretch and take a potty break, and they have something to look forward to after they get out of the crate.

Calming Barking

Some breeds are known for being more talkative than others. However, you don’t have to invest in earplugs to enjoy some peace because you have a barker on your hands. Instead, ignore any barking that’s solely for attention. Once they stop barking for a few seconds, give them pets to reinforce the good behavior. 

Moreover, it helps to train them to bark first, so they recognize what one is. Afterward, you can teach them “No bark.” Then, after they understand this, you can use that command to stop unwanted barking.

Also, keep your pooch occupied throughout the day, which will reduce barking episodes. They have your attention and won’t pay mind to stimuli around or outside that could trigger a barking spell.

Teaching Them Impulse Control

Teaching them no is the first step to your puppy learning impulse control. You’ll find no doesn’t mean no to them at first. You can teach this through positive reinforcement, though.

First, hold out your hand in front of them with a treat in it, and then tell them no whenever they try to get the snack. You’ll want to continue keeping them away from the treat at first. Practice this exercise a few times per training session until they’re no longer so overly excited.

As your puppy learns to resist, reward them with the treat. You’ll want to gradually increase to longer periods between displaying the treat and giving it to them.

Teaching Them Social Skills

If you plan to take your pet for walks around the neighborhood, the park, or anywhere they may encounter other dogs, early socialization is a necessity. However many weeks old they are now is the right age to start having them make new friends.

At these play sessions, you’ll want to train your new puppy to be around other pooches safely. Start with a pup you know who socializes well and is already well-adjusted.

Have the playdate in an open room or outdoor space. Preferably, you don’t want to plan the visit in your pup’s own home or the other dog’s house, so there are no territory issues between the puppies.

Because your pup will be at a disadvantage in a new environment, you’ll want to wait until they’ve been in public spaces already, so you don’t overwhelm them. Moreover, schedule any socialization after nap times so your pup is well rested.

Be certain the other dog you’re having your pet meet is fully vaccinated, and your pet has all their shots for their age. If you don’t know of any dogs that meet this criterion, opt for puppy group classes that require all pups to have their immunizations before participating.

Keep your pup on a leash during any meet and greets. Introduce the pets slowly and give them time to sniff and get to know one another. If the interaction gets aggressive, use the leash to pull your pup back from the situation. Each pet needs its own chew toys or other playthings to keep its mind occupied if the meeting derails. They can then work on parallel play.

These are the basics of puppy training, but you may find other areas you may want to focus on, such as having a complete daily schedule. In addition to any of the basic manners and commands you teach, you may want to opt for private lessons if you’re not having much success with positive reinforcement training and general obedience training.

Frequently Asked Questions About Puppy Training

We heard your questions about puppy training and would like to provide some insight.

What is the first thing you should train your puppy?

While there are various basic commands you should teach as well as getting them on a potty training schedule, start small. Teach your puppy to love their new home and that it’s a safe space for them.

Socialization may be one of the firsts. Specifically, if you have other dogs, you’ll want to introduce them to your new puppy, one at a time, after a few days to a week of your new addition moving in. Another first of training you may want to concentrate on is their separation anxiety, if they have any, so they’re not stressed whenever you leave the house.

What is a good age to start training a puppy?

Regarding puppy training, the general rule is it’s never too early to start. Therefore, as soon as you bring them home, begin dog training.

What are the 5 commands for puppy training?

You may have a lengthy list of what you want to teach your new pet, but the main ones to focus on include:

• No
• Their name (come when they’re called)
• Sit
• Stay
• Bark/no bark

What is a good schedule for a 12-week-old puppy?

Generally, you want to take your new pup out for potty training every three hours. Feed them twice daily, once in the morning and once at night. Aim for the same times each day to benefit your pup’s potty schedule.

Furthermore, keep your puppy engaged throughout the day to help them sleep at night. A young dog will have trouble sleeping in distracting environments, so create a calm environment at night for them before bedtime, allowing them to learn nighttime is for sleep.

For dogs with behavioral problems like separation anxiety, aggression, biting, and even house-training issues, you need to get to the root of the issue, and to do that, you need to understand how a dog sees the world. Since your dog doesn’t have the capacity to see the world from your perspective, it’s up to you to close the gap. In this episode, Brett discuses the importance of seeing your dog as a dog and tells you how to use that new perspective to help you resolve your dog’s issues.

Listen to Episode 96 of The Dog Savant Podcast here, or find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere else you find your podcasts!