Socialization with People

Meeting new people is very exciting, so it can be a difficult time to control your dog.  If you want to train your dog to meet people in a calm manner you have to practice it.

A dog that enjoys being handled and examined by strangers will make your next trip to the vet a breeze.  Don’t wait until your dog is injured or sick before you teach them to enjoy handling.

Dogs may naturally becoming defensive around their food, so Gwen Bohnenkamp demonstrates how to condition your dog to enjoy your presence and handling during dinner time.

Suzie Bluford demonstrates how to condition your dog to enjoy having children around them while they’re eating their dinner.  Hand-feed your pup some extra tasty treats while they’re eating their normal dinner.

It’s important that your puppy is handled by strangers as well.  The best part of puppy class is sitting in a circle passing them around and getting the chance to handle and praise each pup.

Handling is such a simple exercise that  people often neglect to do it often enough.  The only way your adult dog will be happy being handled is if you trained them to enjoy it as a puppy.

When you meet a new dog, give it the chance to come to you, and check to see if it will take a treat from you.  All puppies and dogs need to be actively handled and socialized so they are friendly with strangers and during vet exams

If you want to ensure that your puppy grows into a friendly adult dog, then organize some puppy parties, where they can meet lots of new people, and learn to like them.