The Importance of Socializing Your Dog
Here is a list of the most common fears in dogs- Why are dogs afraid of these things? There are a multitude of reasons. Abuse or neglect can be one of them, but more often than not it is just due to lack of social exposure and creating positive associations with new things or things that your dog perceives as untrustworthy or foreign. Especially throughout a puppy’s developmental period, (Between birth and 18 months) it is critical to practice repeated positive exposure and desensitization on everyday situations and noises such as the examples given bellow. If you notice your dog is particularly frightful of something it is strongly advised to seek the help of a qualified dog trainer or behaviorist.
SCAVENGER HUNT
People
An infant held by an adult
An infant in a stroller
A girl between 2 and 6
A boy between 2 and 6
A girl 7 or older
A boy 7 or older
A small group of kids (no more than 5)
A small group of kids playing with a ball
A man with a beard
A friendly stranger in a hat
A friendly stranger wearing sunglasses
A person with a bike who stops and greets the dog
A person with rollerblades or skateboard
A person in a wheelchair
A person using crutches or cane
A person in uniform
A person carrying a package
A person with a bag or purse swinging from his or her arm
A woman wearing a flowing skirt or dress
A group of adults
Sights, Sounds, Sensations & Surfaces
A stroller
A balloon
An umbrella
An automatic door
A mirror
A bus (loading and unloading passengers)
A grocery cart moving past
Walking between two parked cars
A cat
A pet store
Flapping movement such as a towel/plastic bag
A sudden soft noise such as a magazine dropping on the floor
A sudden louder noise such as dropping keys
A sudden louder noise such as a pan dropping on the ground (Use a helper to drop the pan)
Cars and traffic
A gravel road
Tile floors
Sand/Mud/Grass/Mulch
Bathtub (first without water then with 1” water)
A lawn mower
A sprinkler
A vacuum
Thunderstorms
Another well socialized dog (Puppy Playtime)