Puppy's First Outings

Socialization is not only meeting and interacting with new people and dogs!  Socialization should include all the senses; seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, & smelling everything in their world!  I’ve previously talked about exposing the puppy to new environments to make their world a bit bigger and this is the way that I do that.
 
First plan your outing to be successful!  Whether you are taking a walk or a car ride to your new environment, pack up anything you think you might need or want in that environment…a blanket to sit on with your pup, toys to play with, water, treats, leash, poo bags, etc.  Think about the environment you plan to visit to see if there is anything extra you might need.  Showing up and realizing that you forgot the puppy toys can be almost disastrous as now what will you redirect the puppy with when they become overstimulated and start biting your hands?  Successful socialization starts with being prepared!
 
Second, choose your environment wisely!  You don’t want to overwhelm your puppy by moving into a busy environment too quickly.  Start smaller and watch your puppy for signs of becoming overwhelmed.  For example if you plan to sit near a playground, choose one that allows you to sit far enough away that a whole gaggle of kids isn’t going to rush you the moment you lay your blanket down with a playful puppy.  You can also pick a slow time of day to do this where there are only 1-2 families playing at the playground vs a busy Saturday with lots of families.  
 
Third, use your time there wisely and know when it’s time to leave before something bad happens.  Constantly watch your puppy for signs of distress and/or over-excitement.  Most people can tell when a puppy is frightened, but learning your pup’s warning signs for being over-excited can be more challenging.  Example:  You’re sitting outside a playground and 2 kids come up and ask to pet your puppy.  You like the energy they are putting off, so you agree and the petting begins.  At first the pup kind of just lays there, maybe wagging their tail and sniffing the kids.  Then the pup does something cute and everyone laughs, raising the excitement level of the gathering.  Now the puppy wants to play and nibbles on someone’s clothing… what next?  This answer depends on your ability to redirect the puppy to play with a toy or lay back down calmly.  If you can redirect to a toy and bring the energy level back to an acceptable state? If so you can continue the activity.  But if you can’t redirect the puppy, either thank the kids and ask them to step back now, or pack up and take the puppy out of the environment before the excitement level grows too high and your sweet puppy turns into a T-Rex biting everything insight.


One day, Azul and I were sitting under a shade tree near a park while my granddaughter played at the park.  Here's just a few of the distractions we are ignoring:

• Kids playing house on the playground shouting words like mom, grandma & barking like a dog.

• Kids behind us playing with tunnels, kickballs, and other rapidly moving objects.

• Adults arguing while they totally ignore their kids.

• An active trail beside us with walkers, joggers, and dogs passing us.

• And the list was still building!

When it comes to sitting back and watching with your puppy, distance is your friend! Be sure to sit far enough away from the distractions that your puppy is not overwhelmed, yet close enough that they can see, hear, and smell the distractions. For puppies under 5 months old, generally start at about 30 feet away and slowly move closer. If your pup is seeming fearful, move back and when they calm and focusing on you or the toys you brought for them, you can slowly move closer.

When I take a new puppy out for the first few weeks, we never leave the car. We might go to places with drive thru's such as fast food and banks, sit in a store parking lot while a family member runs, or park near a playground. There are smells, sights and sounds all around around us so pick a wide variety of places to simple park and take it all in. If you need additional assistance with this, check out the Canine Car Club available on the Yooper Paws Patreon Account.