For Puppies Under 4 Months Of Age

The Critical Socialization time for puppies is 5 - 16 weeks. 

Puppies must be exposed to a wide array of smells, textures, surfaces, sounds, vibrations, tastes, and sights, including and especially a comprehensive variety or people and dogs.

The more chances a puppy has to be properly exposed to something new during the critical socialization periods, the less bothered it will be throughout the rest of its life when confronted by other new or frightening things.

Fears can be created by the puppies experiences in its early life. Everything an adult dog is expected to do or coexist with should be added to your socialization program. 

Under socialized puppies can become shy, fearful, defensive, discriminate threats inappropriately and may even bite out for fear. 

-Kathryn Lanam

Puppy socials are a safe place to expose puppies to all of these novel items. In the video above, you see how the training facility is sanitized, and maintained. 

"But, my vet and breeder warned me that my puppy could be exposed to PARVO and other risks if taken out before all their vaccinations."

Here is the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior statement on the importance of early socialization for puppies: Click Here To View Statement

Puppy Socials are broken into two groups:

Tiny Tykes: Ages 8 - 12 weeks or very shy puppies, or puppies under 15 pounds

10:00 Am 

It’s important that we pair social groups based on age. Tiny Tykes is perfect for our little one's learning and exploring this new world. Tiny Tykes take a more gentle approache to puppy socialization. Puppies are safely guided into play, and body handling skills, exposed to different textures, objects, sights, sounds, and more...

Bucking Broncos: Ages 13 - 16 weeks

11:00 AM

This social group has a more robust style of play for the older puppies. Puppies are still exploring new items, sights, and sounds. It is also at this age group we start implementing more self control, and on teaching puppies how to relax as well. 

"But my puppy is over 4 months old- why can't he attend?"

After 16 weeks, a puppy's play and brain development is changing. 16 week old puppies are no longer interested in playing with younger puppies, and can put younger puppies at risk for negative experiences. 

This also applies for small breed puppies that are under 15 pounds. 

"What if my puppy is over 13 weeks and has never attended a puppy social before? Which class do I have them sign up for?"

If your puppy is social and used to being around and playing with other dogs and puppies, sign up for Bucking Broncos.

If your puppy is shy, and hasn't been exposed to many dogs or puppies, sign up for Tiny Tykes. 

"What if my puppy is over 4 months old and is extremely fearful of other puppies and dogs? How am I to socialize them?"

Please consider scheduling a consult with me to discuss a plan on properly socializing your puppy. 

What to Bring to Your Social:
 

• semi-hungry, semi-exercised, pottied puppy 
• copy of your vet's vaccinations records, and negative fecal test
• puppy that has lived in your home or at least 10 days
• puppy who does NOT go to dog parks or non-puppy-specific daycare
• has not had any lethargy, coughing, vomiting or diarrhea within 24 hours  
• bring your puppy with a collar and/or front-clip harness (harness preferred, not required) 
• puppy with a 4 or 6 foot leash, NO FLEXI LEASHES!
• up to four puppies per group