Puppy Socialization Ideas for Responsible Breeders

Socialization is a key part of the early development for puppies, so we wanted to share a few ideas for ways that breeders can socialize their puppies before pet parents bring them to their new homes.

Young puppies should be regularly exposed to the sights, sounds and smells that they will be expected to tolerate in their everyday environment as adults. Breeders should provide or simulate these things in the rearing environment so that puppies have positive experiences to carry on into their new lives with new families.

💡 Before exposing your puppies to new people, places, and things be sure that you have taken the necessary precautions to keep them safe and facilitate only positive experiences.

Take a field trip

Take the puppies to public places, such as parks and pet stores, and allow them to interact with a variety of people and other animals. This is of course dependent on their vaccination schedule, so proceed as necessary to protect the health of your litters.

• For a litter of puppies, consider a puppy stroller! There are a few companies that manufacture large strollers with covers that zip completely so that the puppies cannot jump out.

• For just one puppy try using a backpack or similar style carrier, so that your puppies never have to touch the ground and you can watch closely to ensure no one touches them without your permission.

Take the puppies on short car rides to expose them to new sights and sounds. Exposing puppies to car rides early in life can help prevent future incidents of motion sickness or car sickness caused by anxiety.

💡 Read the AVSAB Position Statement On Puppy Socialization for more information.

Challenge the senses

👃 Introduce the puppies to a brand new smell every single day. This can help them develop curiosity and confidence. Be sure to do your due diligence in researching different items and scents before exposing your puppies to anything that may cause them harm.

Here is a list of a variety of scents that Gayle Watkins of Avidog suggests:

• Natural items (grass, tree bark, leaves, moss, dirt, leaves, evergreen needles and cones)

• Fruits, herbs and spices (lemon, apples, bananas, oranges, rosemary, mint, cloves)

• Training items (gamebirds, such as pheasants, grouse, ducks, pigeons; tennis balls, leather, cloth, wooden and plastic items, essential oils, manufactured training scents)

• Miscellaneous (tolerant pets such as cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils)

Source: Avidog’s Early Scent Introduction Litter Chart

👅 Offer a variety of new tastes for the puppies. Taking into consideration the dietary needs of your puppies based on their age and other factors, provide your puppies with new treats and flavors to develop and strengthen their gut health.

Here is a list of a few human foods that are safe for puppies in small quantities:

• Bread

• Cashews

• Cheese

• Coconut

• Popcorn

• Eggs

• Fish

• Peanut Butter

Source: AKC—People Foods Dogs Can and Can’t Eat

👀 Expose the puppies to different noises and sights.

There are free sounds available on Spotify and YouTube to make this easier for you. Use the search term, “white noise for puppies” or "desensitizing sounds for puppies."

Here are some different things that you can expose young puppies to that they will likely experience in their new home:

• Different types of flooring, such as carpet, hardwood, tile, and linoleum

• People of different ages and sizes

• People with facial hair or people wearing hats or sunglasses

• An umbrella or other large accessories such as a stroller, cane, or walker

Source: Puppy Socialization: Why, When, and How to Do It Right

Make new friends

Invite trusted friends and family members to visit the puppies and play with them in a supervised environment. Again, it can sometimes be dangerous to have too many outsiders interacting with your litters, so take necessary sanitation precautions.

• Communicating with your trusted friends and family ahead of their visit can help avoid uncomfortable situations. Some examples of things you may want to communicate about in advance are what you expect them to wear, how you would like them to behave around the puppies, as well as whether or not you are comfortable with them taking photos or videos while present with your puppies.

Provide the puppies with regular opportunities to interact with other animals, such as cats, birds, and small mammals, to help them learn to get along with a variety of species.

• Consider consulting with your veterinarian before allowing your pets of different species to interact with young puppies. You will want to be aware of any potential zoonotic illnesses or parasites that could put your puppies at risk.

Use plenty of props

Using new and interesting toys and props can be a great way to not only socialize your puppies but to keep them thoroughly entertained! Be sure that these props are safe for puppies to lick and chew on, and that the props can be easily cleaned and disinfected.

Here are some different ways you can utilize props in your socialization protocol:

• Encourage the puppies to explore new environments and objects, such as tunnels and toys, to build their confidence.

• Provide the puppies with a variety of chew toys and other objects to interact with to help develop their senses and motor skills.

• Play games with the puppies, such as hide and seek and fetch, to promote socialization and bonding.

What other ways do you socialize your litters?