Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting milestone, but ensuring they grow into a confident, well-adjusted companion requires careful socialization. At Texas Howdy Doodles, we prioritize premium care and training to help our Bernedoodles and Sheepadoodles transition smoothly into their forever homes. Here’s how you can safely socialize your new furry friend while keeping their health and well-being a top priority.
1. Start with a Safe Environment
Your puppy's first days at home should be filled with positive, low-stress interactions. Begin socialization in a controlled setting, introducing them to different surfaces, sounds, and household items. This helps them adapt to their new environment without becoming overwhelmed.
2. Introduce New People Gradually
Socializing doesn’t mean overwhelming your puppy with too many people at once. Instead, introduce them to a variety of individuals—men, women, children, and individuals wearing hats or glasses—so they become comfortable with different appearances and voices.
3. Exposure to Safe, Vaccinated Dogs
Since puppies are still building their immunity, it’s important to only introduce them to well-vaccinated, friendly dogs in controlled environments. Puppy playdates with known, healthy dogs or attending a reputable puppy socialization class are great ways to build confidence and social skills.
4. Positive Experiences with New Sounds & Objects
We’ve already started introducing your puppy to everyday sounds such as vacuums, blenders, and other common household noises. However, it’s important to note that your home may have additional sounds that we may not have introduced to your puppy yet. Pay attention to these and watch your puppy’s body language carefully.
Always monitor your puppy’s reaction to new sounds. If they appear scared or anxious, don’t force the experience. Instead, re-introduce the sound later, paired with positive rewards like praise or treats. Repeat this process until your puppy becomes comfortable with the sound and situation.
5. Safe Outdoor Adventures
Once your vet gives the green light, take your puppy on short outings to locations you know will be a part of their future life, such as ballparks, coffee shops, or dog-friendly stores. If your puppy is not yet fully vaccinated, you can still take them to these places by carrying them in your arms or using a puppy stroller. This allows them to safely observe the sights and sounds without risking exposure to disease. Reward them as they experience all the new sights and sounds.
After your puppy is fully vaccinated, you can let them walk into these areas, continuing to reward calm and confident behavior. Puppy strollers are also a great option if your puppy becomes too heavy to carry comfortably.
6. Handling & Grooming Practice
From the time they were just three days old, our puppies have been gently handled to get them used to regular grooming practices, including touching their paws, ears, tails, and other parts of their bodies. We've also started brushing and nail trimming in their second week. These practices have helped your puppy adjust to grooming early on.
It's extremely important that you continue with weekly handling and grooming to ensure your puppy remains comfortable with these actions. Regular grooming will help prevent any future anxiety or resistance when it's time for their bath, nail trim, or brushing session.
7. Encourage Independence & Confidence
While socialization is about exposure, it’s equally important to teach your puppy how to self-soothe and handle short periods of alone time. Crate training and interactive toys help build independence and prevent separation anxiety.
8. Enroll in a Puppy Training Program
At Texas Howdy Doodles, we’ve been using Puppy Culture enrichment since the puppies were just three days old. However, this enrichment program is not a training course for you to begin now. If you wish to continue the enrichment at home, we highly recommend visiting the Puppy Culture website to purchase the tools. But, for formal training, we suggest working with a certified puppy trainer or enrolling your puppy in a class once they are fully vaccinated.
If you're interested in in-home training before vaccinations are complete, a trainer can visit your home to help guide you through safe practices. We recommend Audrey and Mallorie with Just Love The Dog—our puppies have worked with them, and they’ve been fantastic. You can visit their website here.
For those who prefer online training, we recommend Baxter & Bella, which offers excellent puppy training programs. You can find them at www.baxterandbella.com and use our discount code HOWDY for 25% off your purchase.
Final Thoughts
The key to safe and successful puppy socialization is gradual exposure, patience, and positivity. By introducing your Bernedoodle or Sheepadoodle to new experiences in a controlled and supportive way, you’re setting them up for a lifetime of confidence and happiness. Welcome to the Texas Howdy Doodles family—we’re thrilled to be part of your puppy’s journey!
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