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What does socialisation actually mean?
Essentially, it covers two areas:
1. Allowing puppies to meet other puppies and dogs, so developing their social skills
2. Getting them used to everyday things, such as vacuum cleaners, traffic and children. The best time to do this is between two and 16 weeks, when puppies are most open to new experiences. One easy way to do this is to attend puppy socialisation classes. Ask your vet to recommend one in your area. However, these can not start until your puppy has had at least one vaccination. Even before this there are things that you can do to help your puppy become well socialised. Here are a few suggestions. 1. Invite all your friends over so your puppy meets a lot of people and encourage them to bring their children too. Get them to dress up in fake beards, wear big hats, carry umbrellas, wear sunglasses, walk on crutches and anything else that your puppy might encounter on the street. 2. Take your puppy on short car journeys to accustom him to travelling. 3. Make sure you introduce your puppy to people who commonly come to your house. Encourage him to make friends with the milkman, the postman and the paperboy. 4. Start examining your puppy's eyes, ears, feet and mouth. Make this part of your daily routine, so you can spot problems early. This will also make it easier for your vet to examine your puppy in the future. 5. Introduce your puppy to common household appliances, such as the vacuum cleaner, lawnmower and washing machine. Remember to make all of these suggestions into a game so your puppy enjoys the experiences. If your puppy is nervous you may need to go slowly, so he is not overwhelmed.
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