5 Ways To Socialize Your Puppy Before Their Vaccines Are Finished

The age old advice has always been to keep your puppy at home until they have all their shots. And honestly, with how devastating parvo and distemper can be, this is solid advice.

But on the flip side, as someone who also owns protective breeds (Rottweilers) who are highly prone to Parvo, I cannot simply leave them in the backyard for their most critical socialization period and cross my fingers that they will turn out okay with people.

So in a happy medium of keeping my puppy safe but also meeting their developmental needs for certain exposures,here are a few ideas for ways to socialize your puppy before their vaccines are finished.

1. INVITE FRIENDS TO COME TO YOUR HOME

   A lot of people are very passive with their puppy meeting guest. They figure their puppy will meet whoever comes in their home and that will be great. But what if that month you only have two people come in your home? What if that month your puppy doesn't see any children? When you have a new puppy, be proactive and INVITE guest over specifically in those critical socialization windows so they get use to new phases in the home. If you don't have children, hit up your friends or family members who have kids to come visit and play with your puppy. If they have a social, fully vaccinated dog, setup a play date for that as well. Bonus points if you have treats on the ready to make it a happy experience for your puppy.

2. TAKE YOUR PUPPY TO OTHER PEOPLES HOMES

   Again, the key word here is to be proactive in setting up social situations for your puppy. Let your friends know you have a new puppy you want to take some new (safe) places and can you drop by for a visit? I stay off unknown public grass areas and stick to friends homes and yards.

3. TAKE YOUR PUPPY ON ERRANDS

   Coffee run? Take the puppy. Dropping kids off at school? Take the puppy. Any errands at dog friendly stores, I'll toss a blanket in the shopping cart and take the puppy. Even if they are just sitting in the car looking out the window, going on errands is valuable socialization for a puppy that would otherwise be sitting at home.

4. USE A STROLLER OR CARRY YOUR PUPPY IN PUBLIC

   Since parvo can stay in the ground for 6 months after an infected dog has been there, I avoid parks, grass, rest stops ... any high traffic dog areas. Sidewalks in my neighborhood? Probably fine but thats a judgement call based on where you live. Honestly, it amazes me how careful people are to keep their puppy at home until the shots are done but then they let their puppy wander around the vet office floors without a care in the world. Ick. Thats one place I never set my puppy down. But I have taken my puppy in a bike trailer on a ride through the neighborhood. I have sat on driveway with my puppy where they can watch neighbors walk by and cars pass by. I can hold my puppy in my lap as my spouse runs into target and I sit outside on the bench near the entrance. Be smart. There are lots of places you can take your puppy safely in a stroller, bike trailer, or simply carry in your arms.

5. EASY SOCIALIZATION IDEAS AT HOME

   Sometimes life gets busy and we are pressed for time. Not every errand is easy to take your puppy on. A simple way to get some extra socialization in that takes very little time or prep? Grab your computer or smart tv and search over to youtube.com. You will for sure find hundreds of videos for any sound you can think of. Some are specifically geared for puppies and roll through a variety of sounds like cars, trains, and crowds. If you notice a certain sensitivity in your puppy you can search for specific sounds. I've previously worked with dogs with noise phobias where we do low exposure to their sensitivity and can gradually desensitize them to it by just playing it when they eat or on low until they acclimate to the sound. Another simple idea is take a look in your garage or backyard. Are there different surfaces you can show your puppy? A tarp you can ask them to walk over? Maybe a ladder you can use food to have them navigate? Exposure to different surfaces, footing and noises is just as important for socialization as meeting dogs and people.