{"id":21,"date":"2019-04-17T11:56:46","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T16:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zimmvet.com\/blog\/?p=21"},"modified":"2020-03-16T09:17:30","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T14:17:30","slug":"make-puppies-into-good-citizens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zimmvet.com\/blog\/make-puppies-into-good-citizens\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Puppies Into Good Citizens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Dr. Maria Krenz, DVM \u2013 ZimmVet-763-856-4848<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puppy Socialization Builds Confident Adult Dogs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For a puppy to become a confident adult, we must provide\na good learning foundation. This foundation is more than teaching the basic commands\nof sit and lie down.  It is also about\nexposing your puppy to places and situations they will most likely experience during\ntheir entire lifetime.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Socialization goes beyond having your puppy play with the\nneighbor dog or a family member\u2019s dog.  Your\npuppy will learn how to play with familiar dogs, but they will not gain enough\nexposure to other dogs and situations to fully learn.  Socializing your puppy to dogs of all breeds\nis very important, and is a vital factor in teaching them acceptable play with\nother dogs.  Puppies learn appropriate\nplay and bite inhibition during these play times with other dogs. This is\nsomething that we cannot teach them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Socializing your puppy to people of every ethnicity, tall\nand short, young and old, as well as people with glasses, hats or other\naccessories is also important for their development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Positive Experiences Can Help Shape a Puppies\nPersonality<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A puppy brain is like a little sponge.  Everything it is exposed to stays in their\nlittle memory bank.  Make sure when\nexposing them to new things and situations that it is done in a positive\nway.  These experiences are what helps\nform their personality.  They are born\nwith a certain temperament, but the positive experiences they are introduced to\nand how they are raised is what forms their personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puppies are learning all of the time, not just when they\nare in a structured environment like a puppy training class. Using harsh\npunishment, rough handling or tools like a pinch collar, training (choke)\ncollar or electronic collar can hurt them and change their personality,\nnegatively.  These practices will also make\nthem more likely to be reactive and show aggressive behaviors as an adolescent and\nadult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of\nthe time and investment you put into your puppy by giving them a good, positive\nlearning foundation will payoff throughout their life.  Puppies can be challenging, but watching your\npuppy develop into a confident adult is worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some Great ways to Socialize your puppy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n