Helping your puppy to socialise
Socialise your puppy and give him the best start in life
Socialisation. It looks and sounds like a big, important word. And indeed it is, when it comes to ensuring that your puppy will mature into a friendly, adult dog that’ll live life to the full.
Now that you’ve taken on your puppy, you owe it to him to make sure he grows into a well adjusted dog, happy in the company of people and other animals.
You can’t start socialising soon enough
The benefits of early socialisation simply cannot be over-emphasised, but the good news is, it’s easy and can be fun for both you and your puppy. All you have to do is take him out and about as much as you can and as soon as possible. And with first vaccinations being offered at six weeks, you can take him out of the house as early as 8 weeks. A word of caution, though, try not to do too much too soon; build up your puppy’s new experiences slowly at first.
Your puppy and other people
It might be stating the obvious, but people are different; different ages, different shapes and sizes. And your puppy should encounter them all. Get him used to strangers, but be careful they don’t overwhelm your new pet in their show of affection.
It’s important that your puppy becomes acquainted with children, too. Even if there aren’t children in the house, get him to meet some outside. One proven suggestion is to take him to the vicinity of a school; children will need no encouragement to make a fuss of your cuddly new charge. But don’t forget that puppies can become tired quickly, so make sure that meeting times with other people are kept quite short, and give your puppy time to rest.
Let your puppy go to the dogs
A crucial aspect of socialisation is the introduction of your puppy to other dogs and indeed, other puppies. However, it’s important that he meets other animals that you know are well socialised; a nasty experience can have a lifelong affect on a youngster.
By being around adult dogs, your puppy will learn to respect his elders, even going so far as being “told off” by an older dog if he gets a little over-excited.
But be careful that your puppy doesn’t become overwhelmed by a bigger, playful dog. The last thing you want is for him to be frightened, so make sure you’re on hand to crouch down to his level and provide a safe haven if necessary.
There’s no reason why your puppy shouldn’t meet other four-legged friends, such as cats, horses and even farm animals. This kind of exposure will pay dividends as your puppy grows into a confident, friendly adult dog.
Your puppy and other places
As part of the socialising process, get your puppy used to a variety of environments, sights and sounds. To a pet that socialises well with humans, this should happen naturally. Getting him used to cities, the countryside, traffic and car travel should be an enjoyable experience for both of you; just remember not to do too much all at once.
If you would like more detailed information about socialising, your vet will be happy to recommend further reading. You might like to consider enrolling on a puppy socialisation class which many vets hold. It is recommended that you start somewhere between 8 and 16 weeks.
Gauteng |
Area |
Contact Person |
Telephone Number |
|
|
Bedfordview Veterinary Hospital |
Bedfordview |
Zoe Gunstone |
(011) 616 4088 |
|
Top Dog Club |
Benoni |
Chantal Barris |
076 315 7364 |
|
Park Veterinary Hospital |
Boksburg |
Stephanie |
082 979 9725 |
|
Scallywags |
Bryanston |
Sonia Munting |
(011) 705 3411 |
|
Bryanpark Veterinary Clinic |
Bryanston |
Kate Lyne |
(011) 706 2590 |
|
St Francis Veterinary Hospital |
Edenvale |
Avril Fry |
(011) 453 8525 |
|
Fourways Veterinary Hospital |
Fourways |
Amanda Pybus |
083 306 4599 |
|
Northrand Animal Clinic |
Kyalami North |
Di Thompson |
(011) 468 3100 or 082 349 7354 |
|
Puppy Pre School |
Midrand / Kyalami |
Bronwyn Heitmuller |
(011) 318 0043 or 083 706 2041 |
|
Dog Challenge |
Muldersdrift |
Karlene Treurnicht |
083 360 5839 |
|
Perfect Pups |
North Riding |
Melissa Kroukamp |
073 367 1828 |
|
Valley Farm Animal Clinic |
Pretoria - Faerie Glen |
Julia van Draanen |
(012) 991 3573 |
|
Menlyn Animal Clinic |
Pretoria - Menlo Park |
Sr Nicolette Swart |
(012) 460 5252 |
|
Edupet |
Pretoria East |
Dr Quixie Sontag |
(012) 480 2021 |
|
Vetland |
Pretoria East |
Sr Georgina Pickett |
073 144 1473 |
|
Randpark Ridge Veterinary Hospital |
Randburg |
Debbie Langkilde & Natasha Lax |
(011) 678 7526 |
|
Rivonia Village Veterinary Clinic |
Rivonia / Sunninghill |
Amanda Pybus |
083 306 4599 |
|
Sasolburg Animal Hospital |
Sasolburg |
Anlé Allison |
082 774 9531 |
|
Midrand Veterinary Hospital |
Vorna Valley |
Melissa Kroukamp |
073 367 1828 |
|
Pups and Hounds Academy |
Weltevreden Park |
Janet Willenberg |
079 503 9982 |
|
Palm Gardens Veterinary Clinic |
Witkoppen |
Gina Trotter |
(011) 465 6914 |
|
Western Cape |
|
Tygerberg Animal Hospital - Bellville |
Bellville |
Sr Karen Forsdicks |
(021) 919 1194 |
|
St Francis Veterinary Hospital |
Bergvliet |
Mary Sproston |
(021) 712 0357 or 083 357 4080 |
|
Constantia Veterinary Hospital |
Constantia |
Carole McMullen |
082 430 4513 |
|
Durbanville Animal Hospital |
Durbanville |
Sr Karen Forsdicks |
(021) 976 3034 |
|
DogSense |
Durbanville |
Claire Grobbelaar |
(021) 979 0848 or 082 784 7524 |
|
Puppy Pre School |
False Bay |
Karen Gray-Kilfoil |
(021) 785 5814 |
|
Taryn Blyth - Animal Behaviourist & Trainer |
Fish Hoek |
Taryn Blyth |
(021) 780 1616 |
|
Panorama Veterinary Hospital |
Kuils River |
Dr Brandt |
(021) 930 6635 |
|
Pups @ Play at Friends of the Labrador |
Marina da Gama |
Juliet Bradley |
072 111 3080 |
|
Blue Cross Veterinary Hospital |
Newlands |
Karis |
(021) 674 4093 |
|
Canine Connection |
Paarl/Wellington/ Franschhoek |
Sr Thineke Momple |
083 235 6847 |
|
Helderberg Animal Hospital |
Somerset West |
Rose Humphreys |
(021) 852 3019 |
|
Bernice Jaffe - Animal Behaviourist |
Southern Peninsula |
Bernice Jaffe |
079 883 7566 |
|
Fourways Veterinary Clinic |
Sun Valley |
Anita Louw |
083 499 2477 |
|
Koornlands Veterinary Clinic |
Swellendam |
Dee Hazell |
(028) 514 1646 |
|
Avalon Veterinary Hospital |
Tokai |
Danielle & Adrienne Hackett |
(021) 715 6324 or 082 465 2425 |
|
Kwazulu Natal |
|
Rinaldo Veterinary Hospital |
Durban North |
Vicki Blom |
(031) 563 5180 |
|
Durban North Veterinary |
Durban North |
Laurence Thom |
(031) 564 2338 |
|
Empangeni Dog Club |
Empangeni |
Maggie van der Merwe |
072 387 6362 |
|
Glenashley Veterinary Clinic |
Glenashely |
Lynette Buttery |
(031) 562 8406 |
|
Petwise |
Hilton |
Lynn Walker |
(033) 343 1752 |
|
Eastern Cape |
|
Knysna Veterinary Clinic |
Knysna |
Cindy Smailes |
(044) 382 1844 |
|
George Rex Veterinary Clinic |
Knysna |
Jane McBeath |
(044) 382 6766 |
|
Marine Way Animal Hospital |
Plettenberg Bay |
Tina van Reenen |
(044) 533 3100 |
|
Kragga Kamma Animal Clinic |
Port Elizabeth |
Lyndi Smith |
(041) 379 2740 |
|
The Dog School |
Port Elizabeth |
Joan & Mike Saward Dumbries |
082 775 4545 |
|
Kragga Kamma Vet |
Port Elizabeth |
Amanda Young |
083 330 3356 |
|
Camp K9 |
Port Elizabeth |
Nadine & Rory Shortland |
083 554 4301 |
|
Good Dog Training Academy |
Port Elizabeth |
Denise Schoombie |
084 200 0502 |
|
Queenstown Veterinary Clinic |
Queenstown |
Mrs Godley |
(045) 839 7077 |
|
Limpopo |
|
Blouberg Animal Clinic |
Louis Trichardt |
Rionie van der Merwe |
(015) 516 2046 |
|
Pietersburg Veterinary Clinic |
Polokwane |
Melanie Brook |
(015) 291 2107 |
|
Namibia |
|
Windhoek Dog Club |
Windhoek |
Mrs Angela Curtis |
081 275 7786 |
|