Socialization Of Dogs Should Include

Most pet owners understand the importance of socializing their puppy or dog.  Once that young puppy is vaccinated you want to introduce them to the wonderful world around them.  You start with family, add friends, and then move on to strangers.  Not only do you want them to meet a lot of people, you want them to meet a lot of dogs.  I should adjust the last part to read a lot of well behaved dogs.  I say well behaved because you don't want a young puppy or an adult dog traumatized by a dog encounter gone terribly wrong. 

Your socializing should include people from a variety of backgrounds, toddlers, teens, adults, and elderly.  People from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.  Be sure to include handicap individuals; people in wheelchairs, those with canes, and walkers as well.  Blind individuals especially those using a cane with the roller ball on the tip.  Injured individuals on crutches or those with casts on their limbs.  Large and small people, short and tall people, and those that fall in between. 

We don't give it much thought, but dogs many times don't know what to think about someone with a hat on their head.  Bulky overcoats can make an individual seems overly large and scary.  Long flowing skirts on women can be startling as well. 

Someone on a bicycle, roller skates, skateboards, whizzing past can cause them to bolt.  They might even want to chase after them.  What about a baby stroller? 

There's a wonderful world out there for your dog and you to explore.  Your job will be to help them be comfortable around diversity. 

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)
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