The importance of correct Socialisation

The way we socialise our dogs is not the same as it was 10 or even 5 years ago. Or at least it shouldn't be! Everyone is always in such a rush to 'socialise' their puppy or dog. What they don't realise is that doing this too soon could be more harmful than good. We need to teach our puppies basic life skills like confidence, optimism and calmness before we thrust them into the big wide world!

As dog owners, we are here to help them grow, learn and make good decisions!

1 bad experience can set a dog back incredibly far, so we want to teach them how to behave in the world before we send them out into it.

Your dog may not like all dogs. Other dogs may not like your dog. It's just a way of life and we need to make sure our dog's can deal with any situation they are in.

How can we do this?

Always work with the dog in front of you! The dog in front of you today, not yesterday, not a week ago and not a year ago. The one you see today!

We want to create a brain that sees novelty and new experiences as GREAT! We can do this everyday by pairing novelty with reinforcement & play.

The socilisation period - myth or reality?

The 16 week socialisation period in puppies is a myth! Dogs continue to learn just as humans do, and socialisation is about SO much more than exposure! In the beginning, all puppies are the same because their brains haven't been shaped - it is up to us how we shape them.

Do our dogs need a million and one experiences to be properly socialised?

No! Trying to introduce your dog to x number of dogs, and x number of people can actually be more harmful than good! If your dog isn't mentally ready to meet lots of other dogs, or people or experience new things, it can affect them negatively, and inadvertently create a pessimist.