Fearfulness

Puppies learn very valuable social skills during their play sessions, with the most important being bite-inhibition.

Dogs are most likely to bite when they’re anxious, and they’re likely to anxious around children who tend to act a little wild.  Prevent problems by actively conditioning your dogs to enjoy the presence of children, and teaching your children how to act around dogs.

Playing with one other dog will not be sufficient for your pup’s socialization.  Instead, they should meet, and play with as many other puppies and dogs as possible.

Letting the little dogs off-leash first gives them a chance to explore and get comfortable.  Some pups are naturally shyer, and need more time to build up their  confidence.

Walking through a new environment can be very stressful for a dog, especially if there are other dogs or strangers around.  Take time to settle down in unfamiliar places and reward your dog for acting calmly.

A jazzy little play session.   Even Nessie comes out for a little playtime

Walks can be very exciting for dogs.  It’s important to give them time to adjust to new surroundings, with praise and treats as reinforcement.

Make sure your dog enjoys being handled so it is not nervous when it goes to the veterinarian, and continue to socialize your dog to unfamiliar people throughout its life.