Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Meg and I have been spending a lot of time working with puppies in our Day Training Puppy Socialization program and we have come to realize what a daunting task it is for new puppy owners to meet the socialization criteria being touted by many in the dog world. Ian Dunbar says that a puppy needs to meet "100 new people by the age of 3 months." That's a lot of people! How can any do that without bringing a puppy to a Philly's game? Our solution is to bring your on your weekly errands with you. Not only will you meet your socialization requirements, but you will also be giving your puppy mental stimulation, which will make him tired later when you are home and it is much more fun than just hanging at home stuck in your kitchen with your puppy.
Many places not only allow dogs, but many places love to see puppies. Some the places you should not having a problem bringing puppies are the dry cleaners, video store, bank, outdoor cafe's, home improvement stores, office supply store, craft stores and beauty salons we are sure there are more, but those are our favorites.
Adult dogs will also love joining you on your errands, as it gives them something to do other than sleeping all day. It is a perfect way to spend time with our dogs with our too busy lifestyles.
Use common sense when running errands with your puppy or dog. Be sure your dog is secured while riding in the car in either a crate or a dog seatbelt and never leave your dog in a car on a hot day. The car can become deadly even on a not so hot day with the windows cracked.
