Scavenger Hunt for Puppy Socialization
by Colleen Pelar, CPDT, CDBC
www.livingwithkidsanddogs.com

Puppies are cute, fun—and so much work! There’s housetraining, bite inhibition, puppy-proofing and socialization, for starters. Socialization—the process of helping your puppy become comfortable with the sights, sounds, andother experiences of life with human beings—is your most important job.

Try to give your puppy as many new experiences as possible so that he’ll be comfortable in any setting as he ages. Use lots of treats to keep your puppy happy and secure, and be careful not to overwhelm your pup with too much, too soon. Be sure that he meets at least 100 people by the time he’s 16 weeks old, from babies to senior citizens. This will help him to be friendly and social throughout his life.

People

 An infant held by an adult

 An infant in a car seat

 A girl, between 2 & 6

 A boy, between 2 & 6

 A small group of kids between 2 & 6 (no more than 5)

 A girl, 7 or older

 A calm boy, 7 or older

 A boisterous boy, 7 or older

 A small group of kids 7 or older (no more than 5)

 A small group of kids playing with a ball

 A man with a beard (mustache is okay if you can’t find a bearded man)

 You in a hat

 A friendly stranger in a hat

 A friendly stranger in sunglasses

 A person with a bike (who stops the bike & greets the dog)

 A person on rollerblades or a skateboard (people moving “abnormally” often worry dogs)

 A person in a wheelchair

 A person with an exaggerated gait

 A person using crutches or a cane

 A woman whose skin color is radically different from yours

 A man whose skin color is radically different from yours

 A person in uniform

 A person driving a truck

 A person carrying packages

 A woman wearing a flowing skirt or dress

Sights, Sounds, & Sensations

 A stroller

 A balloon

 An umbrella

 A camera (obscuring a person’s face)

 Musical instruments

 An automatic door

 A mirror

 A bus (loading/unloading passengers)

 An 18-wheeler (you can often find these parked behind grocery stores)

 A grocery cart moving past you and your dog

 Walking between two parked cars

 A vet’s office (enter, give a treat, & leave)

 A cat with attitude

 An older, well-socialized dog (meeting off leash in a neutral, safe area)

 A pet store

 Lift the dog up onto a table-like surface

 “Brush” the dog’s gums with your thumb

 Gently separate & hold each toe.

 Tap each toe with a metal spoon.

 Flapping movement, e.g., a flag or shaking out a towel

 A sudden soft noise, such as a magazine dropping

 A sudden louder noise, such as dropping keys

 A sudden scary noise, such as a pan dropping (use a helper so the dog doesn’t associate this with you)

 Dog in the bathtub (first without water, then damp, then with an inch of water)

 A lawn mower

 A sprinkler

Colleen Pelar, CPDT, CDBC, author of Living with Kids and Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind, is America’s Kids and Canines Coach. Colleen has more than 15 years’ experience as the go-to person for parents trying to navigate kid-and-dog issues. Because every interaction between a child and a dog can be improved by a knowledgeable adult, Colleen is committed to educating parents, children, and dog owners on kid-and-dog relationships. For more information visit www.livingwithkidsanddogs.com.