Training Talk with Eileen: Puppy Socialization 101
Have a question about your pet's behavior or training? You're not alone. In our ongoing series, Training Talk with Eileen, our Manager of Education and Training tackles real questions from real pet owners. Browse all Training Talk posts for more tips and advice. Browse our Training Resources page or explore more pet training blog posts for tips and advice.
Question: We just got a new puppy for our family. How old should he be before we start teaching him commands? Timmy is 9 weeks old and we have had him a week.
Congratulations. This is such an exciting time for your family, and it is a very important time for Timmy. Puppies start to learn from a very young age, but they also can learn new things for their entire life. At this time in his life, teaching cues like sit, down, or stay should take a back seat to teaching Timmy that the world is a safe place.
How would you do that? It's known as socialization and can be fun for everyone. Socialization consists of allowing your puppy to experience various sounds, sights, surfaces, and people in safe and controlled situations. People often mistake exposure for socialization, but if the experience is even slightly frightening, the puppy could learn to fear the place, person, or anything else they perceived during the interaction.
Learning puppy body language is key to optimizing socialization. A valuable resource is the book Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It by Rogers and Anderson. Besides giving detailed instruction and ideas on how to optimize socialization, the e-book includes video links of body language examples.
Ready to get started? The Richmond SPCA offers a range of puppy programs designed to set your pup up for success — from socialization-based puppy classes to puppy play and socialization sessions, all coached by knowledgeable instructors. Whether you're just getting started or looking for structured support, we have a class for you.
