Socializing your puppy:

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The most critical time for socializing your puppy is between 7-14 weeks of age.  

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Your puppy should meet 100 people by the time he is 12 weeks old.  Since your puppy isn't fully immunized the safest place to introduce your puppy to people, is in your home.   Invite friends over, have them hold the puppy and give him a treat, this will help to create a positive association between your puppy and lots of different people. 

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Socializing your puppy should include more than just people, it should involve other dogs, animals, objects, sounds, and locations.

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Contact me for more information on how to safely and gently socialize your puppy.

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Keeping your puppy safe:

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Until your puppy has completed his 3rd set of shots, protect him/her from diseases by keeping your puppy off any ground surface that other dogs may have eliminated on.  It is best to carry your puppy over grassy areas and especially areas just outside the Vet. Clinic as well as inside the waiting area.

As an additional safety measure, keep outdoor shoes outside so diseases cannot be brought into the home.

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Collars and Harnesses:

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I recommend connecting your dog's leash to a properly fitted harness instead of to his/her collar.  Leash pressure on your dog's collar can cause inflammation of the thyroid gland as well as changes to his/her eye pressure.

 

A harness disperses the leash pressure evenly throughout the dog's body without involving the neck or throat.  

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A front connection harness is preferable to a harness that connects to the back, especially if you want to obtain a loose leash walk.  When a leash is connected to a back connection harness, it causes the dog to pull, as the dog instinctively resists against pressure caused by tension on the leash.

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