Words by Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP
🐾BEGINNER DIFFICULTY
Words by Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP
Pink built a career on raw defiance, but the softest thing she’ll admit is how completely her dogs own her. Behind the leather and the vocals, her home runs on paws and loyalty.
She and husband Carey Hart adopted Oskar, a dog who became the family’s emotional anchor. Pink has said the pup’s steadiness taught her a calmer kind of strength than any stage ever could.
Her message is pure Pink—blunt and true: adopt, don’t shop. The dogs, she says, didn’t just join her life in Australia and beyond; they became the reason it all feels worth the noise.
The more people your puppy meets in happy ways, the less likely he’ll grow up afraid of those he meets. Seek out people of different ethnicities and ages, people in uniform, children. Ask each to give him treats. If he hesitates or seems scared, don’t force it. Never scoop him up and hand him to someone he fears—you’ll deepen the fear. Instead, have the person toss treats from afar and let your puppy approach at his own pace.
Gather two or more friends, each with treats, and form a small circle with your puppy in the middle. One calls “Fido, come!” in a happy voice, cheering him over. The instant he arrives, he gets a treat and praise. Then the next person calls, and so on. As he succeeds, widen the circle so he travels farther. Again, if he’s reluctant with someone, have that person toss treats instead.
Many puppies startle at loud or odd sounds. Tackle it now and teach him noises aren’t so scary. Ideally keep the noise at a distance so you can read his reaction. From across the room, switch on a hair dryer, then immediately toss a treat as you switch it off. Is he curious or afraid? If afraid, move farther away or soften the sound. As he gains confidence, bring the noisy thing closer. If he walks toward it on his own, even better!
Sometimes a noise hits without warning and scares him, like a sudden thunderclap. Keep treats handy. Lightly make a game of it—“Yay, thunder!”—and offer treats.
If you ever need to grab his collar to pull something from his mouth or keep him safe, he could learn to dread your hand there—leading to avoidance or even aggression. Play collar-hold games to prevent it. Call “Gotcha!” in a bright voice, gently hold his collar, and pop a treat in his mouth. Shopping for a new collar? See our favourites in the Modern Dog shop!
You may need to cut a mat out, check a wound, or give medicine, so teach him to enjoy handling. Get treats. Touch an ear, treat. Other ear, treat. A paw, treat. Each paw, treat, until all are done. Tail, treat. Teeth, treat. A gentle restraint hug, treat. Which part did he like least? Work that spot with shorter touches and better treats until he loves being handled.
Want a puppy who doesn’t jump on people? Teach Sit, and only pet him when he’s sitting. Hold a treat above his nose and slowly move it back over his head toward the tail. As he reaches, his rear drops. The moment he sits, treat. Once you get five sits in a row, try one with no treat in hand but the same motion—that becomes your hand signal. Hand signals are easier for dogs to read than words. Give the signal, and when he sits, treat from your other hand. Once he’s reliable on the signal, add the verbal “Fido, Sit,” then signal, then treat. When that’s solid, fade the signal so he responds to the word alone.
Bath time needn’t be a battle. Put him in the tub or sink if he’s small. A couple of treats. Turn on the water, treat. Wet one leg, treat. Repeat until all legs are wet. Wet the rest, avoiding his eyes, treat. Soap one leg, treat. Repeat until all are soapy. Then rinse, treating per body part. Smear peanut butter on the sink or tub edge to keep him busy while you bathe. If he shows fear or resists, slow down and pause until he settles. Take your time and he’ll learn spa day is a luxury. See our favourite coat and body-care picks for your dog here.
Visual by photoboyko / Stock photo
Take your puppy to varied places to expose him to different settings. Bring treats and make sure he enjoys it. Visit dog-friendly stores. Worried about germs? Bring a washable bath mat, lay it in a cart, and let him ride in style while socializing. Wash it at home. Visit friends with safe, vaccinated, puppy-friendly dogs. Not all dogs like puppies, so check. Can he come to work? Is there a nearby school to meet students? The more places and situations you expose him to happily, the less scary the world becomes.
Find a quality, reward-based puppy kindergarten. A good class has an experienced, educated instructor. Some obedience is fine, but the focus should be socialization-period topics—socialization and handling—plus housetraining, husbandry, and reading stress signals. The instructor should pick suitable playmates and avoid free-for-alls where pups learn to bully or be bullied.
Visual by Ocskay Mark / Stock photo
Get a chew big enough for him to gnaw while you hold one end. As he chews, praise. This teaches him hands near his toys are good, heading off resource guarding.
For tasty treats your puppy will love, see our favourites in the Modern Dog shop here!
Never pick a dog park to socialize your puppy. Irresponsible owners may bring sick or aggressive dogs there, and you have little control over strangers—so don’t let their poor judgment scar your puppy for life. [For more on dog parks and puppies, read “Why Dog Parks and Puppies Don’t Mix” at moderndogmagazine.com/dogparkpuppies.]
Don’t shove your hands in his bowl or randomly take his food then hand it back. You may think you’re showing you’re boss and control his food, but you’re really teaching him you’re unpredictable and like to snatch things for no reason. That can make him growl or guard his food. Instead, add a few handfuls to his dish at a time, so hands near the bowl mean good things, not alarms.
Many pet parents fear taking puppies out before shots are done, worried about disease. Be careful, but know waiting to socialize is risky too. The last vaccine round usually lands at the end of the critical socialization window—by then it’s too late for the lessons he needs.
It can be hard to know what to do amid conflicting advice. Some breeders, vets, and others still say wait, but that isn’t current canine-behaviour thinking. Per the 2015 American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Canine and Feline Behavior Guidelines, “There is no medical reason to delay puppy and kitten classes or social exposure until the vaccination series is completed as long as exposure to sick animals is prohibited, basic hygiene is practiced, and diets are high quality. The risks attendant with missing social exposure far exceed any disease risk.” AAHA is the only group accrediting companion-animal hospitals and sets the standard for vet excellence.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior echoes this, noting “it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated.”
Puppies not properly socialized to varied environments, people, and experiences can develop fear and aggression. Be safe—carry your puppy in public, keep him off spots sick dogs may have used, and wipe his feet well after outings.
This article originally ran in Modern Dog magazine. Subscribe now!
Keep sessions short and always end on a success your dog is proud of.
Hold one treat at your dog's nose level and let the smell do the talking.
Say the cue once, clearly, in a happy voice - then wait.
The instant the wanted behavior happens, mark it with a cheerful Yes!
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