How To Socialise Your Puppy

Dogs are naturally social animals. In fact, their lives often depend on strong social skills in the wild. Left to their own devices, a young puppy is going to happily explore and interact with as many other animals as it can!

Socialise Your Puppy

Chevromist Moodle Puppy CrunchieAs long as you’re careful and offer close supervision, socialising your Designer breed puppy couldn’t be easier!

Designer Breeds have been developed as social dog breeds with both people as well as other dogs. Friendly breeds such as Cavoodles, Spoodles and Groodles have no shortage of playmates at the dog park as they are quickly recognizable for their friendly disposition.  Beagliers retain their puppy looks for most of their lives, while other designer breeds such as Moodles and Poochons are of a small size that is difficult to be intimidating to any but the smallest of dog breeds.

You can start introducing your little one to new experiences and other animals, like the friendly cat or other family dog, as soon as you get home. Reward both dogs for interacting with each other, and make these encounters into a game if you can.

Invite neighbors & other family members over to meet your new puppy, encouraging them to play with the pup. Supervising closely, allowing your niece or nephew, son or daughter (children) to play with the pup. Your goal is to let your puppy know these other animals mean good things for him, so he doesn’t consider something he has never met before a potential threat later on.

  • Important: Make sure every interaction or experience is a happy one!
  • Always provide careful supervision!
  • Introduce your puppy to as many new experiences and creatures as possible!
  • Introduce your puppy to the ‘friendly’ cat.
  • Bring other dogs around.
  • Invite family & friends over to meet your puppy.
  • Try to make new interactions into fun games!
  • Help your pup get used to, and enjoy, car rides early- before he is a much larger grown adult.

Puppy ‘Obedience’ Classes

Designer dog TrainingObedience skills, like ‘sit’ and ‘stay’, or ‘down’ are usually the first things that come to mind when someone thinks of puppy obedience classes. In reality, these classes often teach the dog’s owner how to train their puppy more than the traditional ‘teacher/student’ you might think of. But they help impact your puppy’s growth in an often unexpected way, much more valuable than simple obedience skills. It is easy for larger designer breeds such as Standard Groodles to accidentally hurt smaller puppies while excitedly playing, so spending supervised time in an obedience class will quickly show the larger dogs what sort of play is acceptable with smaller dogs.

Puppy classes are fantastic opportunities to immerse your pup in a social setting with other young dogs, eager to make friends, play and interact! As long as there are other puppies, obedience classes are both great for building social skills, and are recommended for any young pup.

Bite Inhibition (‘Soft Mouth’)

When one puppy unintentionally bites another too hard during play, the ‘victim’ yelps and scurries away; play stops for both pups. The biter wants to keep playing, so he learns not to bite his siblings so hard next time. The principle is called ‘Bite Inhibition’, or the ability of a dog to control his bite pressure.

Anyone who has raised a puppy from 8 weeks knows how painful those incessant little needle teeth can be! Don’t worry; by mimicking a dog’s natural interactions, you can continue this training. If your puppy accidentally bites your hand too hard during play, simply ‘yelp’, act injured (even if you aren’t), and immediately stop playing. Of course your pup wants the play to continue, so he will learn to avoid hurting your skin the next time you two are playing.

How to Lead Train a Poochon Puppy

Chevromist Kennels on Instagram_ “@Regrann from @mochathepoochon
Chevromist Kennels on Instagram_ @mochathepoochon

It may come as a surprise to some, but you will need to lead train a puppy if you expect them to walk with a leash. A dog’s natural instincts are to run free and explore and being on a leash restricts that ability. The good news is that you can lead train your puppy to walk while wearing a leash if you follow a few tips that will help you do it right.

Start with the Collar

You’ll want to put the collar on first and let your Poochon puppy get used to it. Start by letting the puppy wear it for a short time in the house as you play and give the puppy treats. It will not be long before the puppy associates the collar with having fun with you.

Introduce a Command

This means creating a sound cue that lets your Poochon puppy know that a treat is coming. This can be a simple noise you make, such as a clicking sound or the like. Your puppy will make the connection when on their leash that a treat is on the way when you make that sound. Of course, you’ll need to provide a treat each time, but that will get your puppy’s attention.

Use the Command to Control Movement

When on the leash, back up a few paces when calling your Poochon and reward them when they follow you. This is where the command comes in as they will associate it with a treat and come to you to get it. You’ll need to practice this a few times as puppies can get easily distracted. Plus, keep the training session short and do not wear them out.

Start Lead Training Inside

Just because they seem ready doesn’t mean that going outside is the best place. Start inside by walking them around on the leash and rewarding them when your Poochon comes to you. You can start in the living room, hallway, or whatever place works best. Your goal is to have them respond to you while on the leash, so they keep up.

Lead Training Outdoors

Chevromist Poochon on the grassNow you are ready to go outdoors. Remember to be patient as there are many things that will distract your puppy. So, start with a short walk that lasts for a few houses and keep you eyes on them. When they seem to get distracted, give your command, walk a few feet away, and reward them with a treat when they follow.

Remember to be gentle and not pull or drag your Poochon along. Instead, be patient and use the command to get their attention and reward them when the puppy behaves. It’s best to be proactive at this stage and anticipate potential lunges, distractions, and barks by giving the command and rewarding them before it happens. Pretty soon, your puppy will be walking with you on the leash with few incidents. 

Understanding how to lead train a puppy of any breed is one of the easiest skills they can learn. You simply need a little patience and understanding as you introduce your puppy to walking while on a lead.

Being the pack leader

The pack leaderDogs are pack animals and the pack has a strict hierarchy, with the “alpha” at the head of the pack. Establishing yourself as the pack leader in your home is the best way to ensure that your dog takes you seriously, follows commands, and behaves in a predictable manner. You don’t become pack leader by being a bully, but instead establish control through resource control, confidence, giving direction and following through with everything.  A specially prepared dialogue which everyone in the household knows to use when communicating with the dog is also essential, so he knows exactly what’s expected of him no matter who is giving the command.

Don’t Spoil your Dog

Moodle in the carA dog that gets everything he wants when he wants will soon come to think of himself as the pack leader. This applies to both larger breeds like Labradoodles to smaller breeds like Moodles. Make your dog earn everything including petting, feeding, or even talking. If he is demanding attention have appropriate obedience commands in place to use before he gets what he is asking for.

The head of the household eats first in any pack and in the home environment this means all the humans eat first. He should be made to wait politely before eating and should not do so until he is invited. It should also be made very clear that humans are the food givers. Feed him once or twice a day only and remove all food after 10 – 15 minutes. Treats should only be handed out once the dog has earned it by obeying a command, or even performing a simple trick.

When entering or leaving a building, leaders always go first. Dogs should be made to sit and wait, and then be given permission to leave or enter. This also includes outside environments when walking through a gate. If your dog is still learning, block the entrance with your body so they cannot rush past you.

Lead The Way

Labradoodle out for a walkAn alpha dog would never step over another animal blocking their way. They will always make the other animal clear the path. You should treat your dog the same way. If they are taking up the hallway, or doorway, they should be made to move before you go any further. The same goes for sitting down. If the dog is sitting in your favourite chair gently remove him in a non-confrontational way and then sit down – then give him position to sit where you say he can sit.

Never give a command without following through. If you give the command to sit, ensure the dog always does what you ask of him. If he fails to do so don’t beg, plead, whine, yell, or punish but help the dog achieve the desired action. When he finally does obey be sure to shower him with praise.  Obedience training is also highly recommended as you will receive expert guidance on the best ways to handle your dog.

If you think this system is being too controlling or unfair to the animal, consider how many dogs are given up each year due to behavioural problems. Dogs thrive on structure and firm guidance and it is the owner’s responsibility to provide it – with it always being to the detriment of the dog if they don’t.