The activities listed below will help your new puppy become incorporated into the household.  This process is called socialization.  Your new pet will become strongly attached to your family during his period between 7-12 weeks of age.  This bond will last a lifetime.  It is important that your puppy learn he/she is the subordinate member of the family.  This will minimize the potential for bad habits and behavior problems such as dominance or aggression. It is vital that everyone in the family practice these exercises.  Younger children should have adult supervision.  The following activities should become part of the normal routine for your dog.

While the puppy is small, pick it up frequently.  Look into the dog’s eyes until it looks away.  Rub the puppies stomach while it is on it’s back.  During grooming or petting, use moderate pressure from the head to tail.  During play don’t allow puppy to stand on or over you.  I recommend never playing tug-of-war games.  Encourage fetch and retrieve.  Teach the dog to sit.  Use short but frequent sessions for young dogs.  Practice taking food away at mealtime, then giving it back again.  Praise compliance.  Displace dog from sleeping area.  Praise dog for compliance. Teach pup to relinquish toys or objects on command. (Give, leave it, etc.) Praise dog for good behavior even when resting quietly.  Practice manipulating the ears, paws, tail, and mouth.  Never use a command unless you’re sure the dog will obey or you can make it obey.  Have your pet obey commands prior to everyday activities.  Incorporate obedience commands. (Sit before feeding, heeling before playing, sit before going outdoors.)  Use effective punishments. - Grab scruff of neck, shake and say “no”.  Along with the “no”, put them in a sit or down position for a short period of time.  This way they have to stop what they are going, sit and behave.   Never let a puppy/dog growl.  If it is a larger dog, slightly lift up on the leash, straight above the choke collar, hold for a moment, advise dog “no-sit”, release pressure.  It dogs continues to growl or jump around, choke up again for a moment, do the no-sit, and release pressure.  When dogs responds by stopping the misbehavior and sitting quietly, then immediately say “good-dog” and pet him while he continues sitting for a few moments. Show him that is what you want him to do. Be firm not rough.

Accustom your puppy to many things at a young age: Baths (see grooming article), brushing, clipping nails, cleaning ears, having teeth examined, and so on. Taking the time to make these things matter of fact and pleasant for your puppy.  Brushing is important, especially for double coated dogs when they begin to shed. A little effort now to get your puppy to enjoy brushing will save you a lot of trouble later when it begins to shed and you need to brush him.

During your puppy's first year, it is very important that he be exposed to a variety of social situations. After the puppy has had all its shots, carefully expose it to the outside world. Take it to different places: parks, shopping centers, schools, different neighborhoods, dog shows, obedience classes--just about anywhere you can think of that would be different for a little puppy. If the puppy seems afraid, then let it explore by itself. Encourage the puppy, but be firm, not coaxing. If you want to take the pup in an elevator, let it try it on its own, but firmly insist that it have the experience.  Your favorite dog food and supply store (unless it's a pet store) is a good place; dog shows are another. Soccer and Little League games are good.  Make them sit every time when someone comes up to them and sit to get petted.  You want the pup to learn about the world so that it doesn't react fearfully to new situations when it is an adult. You also want it to learn that you will not ask it to do anything dangerous or harmful. Socializing your dog can be much fun for you and the dog!