Socializing your Puppy

Over the years my experience with puppies, especially Chi pups, has lead me to the importance of socializing them at an early stage with continued social activities throughout those first few years. A well adjusted and social Chi makes life a whole lot easier for their owners and visitors.

Chihuahuas, I feel, need socialization more than most. Their size and stature make them vulnerable and afraid of being hurt. Therefore everyone or everything they meet is a potential hazard in their eyes.

All dogs are born protective, especially around their teeth, paws and tails. It is important to touch their mouth, teeth, paws, nails and tails at an early stage, by doing this they will understand this behaviour is not threatening and will be less likely to misbehave at bathtime or grooming.

I recently found a article that covers some of the more important basics of socialization, a link to the website is found below.

I have listed some key tips which I find extremely beneficial.

1. Playtime. Spend as much time as possible playing with your pup. Use a variety of toys and textures to stimulate their senses. The more exposure the more relaxed they are with strange things.

2. Meet and Greet. Allow plenty of interaction with people of all kinds. Children, other adults and the elderley. Even expose them to walking canes, strollers and wheelchairs.

3. Walking. Going for walks not only is good exercise, it allows them to become familiar with different surroundings and surfaces. Bitumen, concrete, grass etc. Even surfaces around the home such as wood flooring, tiles and carpeting are a good example. Introduce playtime on your excursions, toss a ball, climb over obstacles, run between trees or around a fenced area. (Remember not to take your new pup out or to the dog park until it has been fully vaccinated.)

4. Riding in Cars Dont limit your car rides to only when you need to visit the vet, they will link a car ride to the vet and become stressed every time you go in the car. Drive to a dog park when they are older, to the groomer or simply a ride around the block. Keep it interesting. The same principal appeals to pet carriers. Use the carrier in playtime so they do not associate it with nasty happenings.

5. Change their Feeding Area. Sometimes a simple change in the place you feed them helps. A small step can be a giant leap. Try feeding them outside, in a different room or on the patio.

6. Children and Other Animals. It is particulary important to give your Chi "supervised playdates" even as they get older. Allow interactions between children and other pets under supervision, gradually increasing to longer playtime as the pup becomes more confident. Soothing reasuring words and slow, gentle gestures will enforce their confidence. Any sudden or quick movements at them or loud voices will damage their confidence and set your training back substantially.

7. Always Remain Calm and Praise Good Behaviour . All animals pick up on human emotions,. It is therefore important to always exude an aire of calmness and relaxation when introducing new stimuli or in any situation. Your pup will pick up that you are relaxed and happy so feel no harm will come to them. Praise them and give them treats at the end of every encounter to reassure them they are safe .

Remember as with any training program all you need is 10 mins a day every day! With time you will develop a happy well socialised Chi.

My thanks to ilovemychi.com for the helpful tips and mountains of information.