101 Things To Show A Puppy
During the period between birth and about 20 weeks your puppy learns an enormous number of things. During this time he not only has a huge capacity to learn, but he is in a narrow window of opportunity to learn how to learn. By this I mean that he is in a stage where he learns how to accommodate a new experience, even if that experience is at first a little strange and scary.
It is not possible during this time to expose your puppy to everything he will ever encounter in his life. However, if your puppy gets extensive experience during this critical period in how to adapt to a new situation or experience, it will make it easier for him to adapt throughout his life. Let me turn that around. If a puppy doesn't learn how to accommodate new experiences during this critical period, throughout his whole life it will be more difficult for him to adapt to new things.
Taking your puppy to a socialization class is a great start. Here your pup will meet new people and other dogs. But there is so much more in the world besides people and dogs. It is also wise to remember that dogs are extremely discriminating creatures that do not generalize well. Just because a pup has seen ordinary adult humans does not mean that he will view toddlers or men in uniform in the same light.
The following is a list of people, places, things, and activities that you should try to expose your puppy to during the first few months of life.
But please note!
Don't just throw your pup into these new situations. Make each and every exposure a positive experience. Make a new thing memorable by pairing it with something your dog loves, like a wonderful liver treat!
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1. Large men 31. Vinyl and wood floors |
51. Baby pool |
© 2000 Kelly Randall