hi all just wondering how everyone socilizes there puppy ,were do you take them thanks

My pup left his mum at 8 weeks (he's one of a litter of four) and he'd already become used to normal household noises like washing machines, vaccum cleaners, plus she has plenty of friends and lots of friends and children visiting so he'd met loads of humans before coming to me. He's now 12 weeks old but as soon as I got him, I made sure he was taken to as many places as practical. Obviously he had to be carried around because he hadn't completed his vaccinations but it's surprising just how many places you can carry a pup around! Including an exhibition packed with people which also included a video of a firework display which he watched happily while sat on my lap. He enjoyed this event enormously although I was seriously worried that he'd come home from it thinking that his name was "Awwwww" or "No, we can't have one of them!"  He was introduced to the postman, the neighbours, various friends who've dropped by - which is very regularly! - and taken to the station every morning in the car to see off my OH as well as into the city to meet my printer and shown the print shop so he wouldn't be spooked by another set of strange noises. I live by a level crossing and he soon learnt what trains looked and sounded like. At the vet he was introduced to a very senior cat with the sort of no nonsense attitude that produces respect from young pups and, during the course of his vaccinations, has also struck up a friendship with a lovely husky bitch pup of the same age.  My job is a help in getting him out and about and today he came on a photo shoot with me where he met some of the Brighton & Hove Albion FC players and tried to undo the manager's shoelaces!

He loves people but needs more socialisation with dogs as soon as possible and since he's now clear to go out he will be meeting some new doggy friends early next week when we take several pups to the beach. Which should be interesting!

I guess I'm only doing what most other people would do to socialise pups though - basically take them out and about during that vital window of time which doesn't last long.

I got my puppy at 7 weeks. We gave her a day to settle in and then straight off she was in the car to get used to that (in a crate on the back seat with me, then once she got used to the car moved into the boot behind a dog guard). Before her vaccinations, she was carried into town, to the high street, into a shop (the shop I work at is dog freiendly), around car parks to get used to traffic etc. At home the hoover was on every day (she hates it still, but hey, she has to hate something - now she will just take herself off to another room until the hoovering is finished), wallpaper stripping (we are redecorating!) crashing from upstairs as my partner pulled in a dud ceiling!) Once she had had her vaccinations she was taken past schools, hospitals, past the rubbish truck (very noisy), and was introduced to as many dogs in as many different environments (all controlled environments), as well as as many different people as possible (I know this may sound silly, but people of different ethnic origins, different heights, with and without beards, with short and long hair - all this is essential, as dogs can be fearful of different people), she was walked on a lead into shops etc. At home the TV was on at different volumes, the stereo, the paper shredder, plates, pots and pans being crashed about, the oven timer, toilet flushing all of that stuff. In addition I got her early vaccinations, so she started puppy class at 10 weeks ( she had her first vaccination at the end of 7 weeks) and that also helped her a lot, as once vaccinated we could really go all out on the socialisation.

http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/thepuppysruleoftwelve.pdf

Look here for some ideas, my GSD dog came home with me at 7 weeks and went out straight away on the floor, he did not have his first vaccination until he was 9 weeks old as I prefer not to inoculate if puppies are stressed and a change of home is a stress factor.

He had been on buses, cars, trains, kiddy cars, at the supermarket,  boot sale, dog trials, shops, etc etc before he was 12 weeks old and is absolutely bomb proof now.

tHANKS FOR THAT

Car boot sales! :D

Mine gets socialised at the pet shop....