Editor’s note: This article is the first in a series of behavior problems in dogs.
Behavior problems are the primary reason dogs are euthanized or brought to shelters. To head off this serious problem, there are several tips to help with your new puppy.
What your pup learns (and fears) during its first four months will be carried in its memory for the rest of his or her life. Therefore, it is imperative that you set aside the time and patience to turn these first months—a window of opportunity—for a positive experience for both of you.
Puppies need to be socialized early in life. This is when they accept the world around them. If you don’t expose them to what they need to learn during their window of learning, they can have problems later as adults. This means that they need to be exposed to other animals, strangers, strange sounds, scents, and even your groomer or veterinary hospital. Grooming, nail trims and being petted around the mouth (in anticipation of brushing teeth later) are other areas of socialization.
Start this slowly and patiently as soon as you get your puppy home and adjusted to its new surroundings. To minimize the chance of your new pet picking up a contagious disease (parvo virus is the main one), take precautions to expose your pup to only other animals that are healthy, even if the vaccine series is not complete. Keep him or her separated from any animal whose state of health you’re uncertain of. The odds of your dog getting a life-threatening disease like parvo when you take routine precautions are minimal compared to the behavioral problems and their possible serious consequences that can occur without proper socialization.
In the next article, we will talk about housetraining a puppy. For a head start, visit the behavior link on our website.