Guidelines to Socialization
It is important to start socialization with your puppy as soon as you get them. Swissies are sentry dogs. They keep an eye out and alert on what's out of place. The more they see and are exposed to the more confident they are in various settings. Every day is an opportunity to introduce new experiences! Of course, before your puppy finishes their puppy shots they should not be interacting with unknown dogs or frequent areas heavily populated by dogs. However, this doesn't mean they should be quarantined. Here are some suggestions:
Keep track of the new experiences. By tallying up what your puppy is exposed to, you can follow their well rounded upbringing. Remember to have fun and keep things positive.
- Enroll in puppy class! You can have your puppy enrolled before you bring him or her home so you can start right away. Puppy class is a safe environment for young puppies to have structured exposure and begin basic obedience. This is a great first step.
- Let your puppy say hi to people. Puppy class will teach you proper manners for greeting people, and with the positive experiences your puppy has meeting various people, the more natural it seems to them. Who can resist a Swissy pup?
- Take your puppy on car rides. From the security of your car puppies can see and smell so much. Just be sure to not leave your puppy unattended on a warm day.
- Venture out! Going on walks, outdoor seating at restaurants, hardware stores, open malls, school campuses all provide new environments for your puppy to explore and get comfortable.
Keep track of the new experiences. By tallying up what your puppy is exposed to, you can follow their well rounded upbringing. Remember to have fun and keep things positive.