Going Public (with your puppy)

Early socialization is critical for puppies and it’s possible to do it safely.

If you’re new to the puppy world, and you brought your puppy home at around 8-10 weeks of age, you’ve been warned about taking your puppy out in public to prevent illness. The concern is real and it’s important that you be mindful, but it is equally important that you start taking your puppy out into the world very soon after they join your family.

Advice from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior is that “it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive socialization before they are fully vaccinated”.

As a certified professional dog trainer who specializes in helping people raise their puppies, I can say that socialization is not a cookie cutter approach.

What I mean by that is that every puppy needs to be socialized in a way that’s appropriate not only for that puppy, but for the life it will have.

I’ve had clients who travel frequently and want or need their puppy to go with them, so those puppies need to be very carefully introduced to all the aspects of travel that they will encounter.

What it comes down to is that your puppy only needs to be exposed to those situations that they are likely to encounter in their lifetime. So think about your expectations and make sure your puppy’s socialization plan aligns with your life goals for them.