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I enrolled Mika into a puppy class, and they gave a really nice and detailed socialization checklist. I think there might be one on the NK side, but thought it would be neat to post what the checklist given to me at puppy class is, and see how many forum members were able to get most of these checked off before their puppies hit 16 weeks of age.
People: Adults Babies Toddlers Children Teenagers Seniors Both genders Different ethnicities
People Wearing: Umbrellas Sunglasses Hats Beards Helmets Costumes Punk Hairdos Shaved Heads Raincoats
Animals: Friendly, healthy dogs Puppies Small pets (hamsters) Large birds (geese) Cats Livestock (goats)
People in Uniform: Police Firefighters Postal Workers Vet clinic staff Ambulance attendants Crossing guards Meter readers Telephone worker Couriers
People with: Canes Crutches Legs in cast Metal frame walkers Wheelchairs Guide dogs Baby carriages Baby carriers Backpacks Luggage Wagons Shopping carts Limps or odd gaits Erratic body movements
Athletic Folk: Joggers Skateboarders Cyclists Rollerbladers Bike couriers Toboggans and sleds Snowboarders Surfers Wind surfers Speed walkers Spectator at 10k run Kayakers/canoeing People swimming Hackysack Martial arts
Motor Vehicles: Trucks backing up Screeching brakes Cars backfiring Airplanes & Helicopters Street cleaners Snowplows Garbage trucks Motorcycles Delivery trucks Skidoos & Seadoos
Outdoor Events: Parade Hot air balloon People singing Live music band Farmers market Beach party/bonfire Santa Claus Fairs & Rodeos Sporting events Mimes & Clowns People dancing Rush Hour A rally/protest Street Vendors
Strange Sights & Smells Drunk people Icecream truck Strong perfume Strong cooking smell Hammocks Swings Scooters Tricycles Cigarette smoke Skipping rope Hula hoop Kites, Flag/banners Model airplanes/remote control toys
Construction Sites & Gardeners: Jackhammers Cranes Front-end loaders Bulldozers Wheelbarrows Garden hose Sledgehammers Power tools Forklifts Carrying shovels Electric hedge shears Sweeping with broom Lawn mowers Ride on mowers Weed whippers Sprinkler system
Different Environments: Car Rides Socialization class Vet clinic Boarding kennel Groomers Bank Video store Gas station Boat rides School grounds Sporting activities The beach Toll booth Shopping mall Friend's homes Public transit Outdoor cafe Country versus city Elevators/escalators Automatic doors Pet supply store Downtown Hiking trails The office Petting zoo Car wash Walk after dark A tunnel A bridge Busy intersection Outside child daycare Active railway Crowd of people Drive-thru Drive-in-movie
Different Surfaces: Stairs (up & down) Sand Wood Ceramic tiles Carpet Ice Slippery surfaces Manholes and grates Watery or wet Grass Gravel Cement Swinging Bridge Wooden dock Tarmac (not hot days) Astroturf Mud
I know this checklist is very long, and some of it can be done in one outing to the same place. I don't think I can get all of these checked off by 16 weeks! Haha, but I think it's a good guideline to follow to try to get my puppy out to meet, feel, smell, hear, see, and experience as many different things and people as possible.Julie (human) loved by Mika (shiba) - Mika's Blog
That is a fantastic check list. I am going to make this a sticky because I think this is so important for new dog owners.Jessica “Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace.”-Milan Kundera
Clearly I was never socialized with mimes or clowns because those bastards creep me out.Jessica “Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace.”-Milan Kundera
Funilly enough, I have an Aunt who is also afraid of clowns. [ & birds, & snakes, & lizards: IE, all of my babies ] & when she found out we got a pup, she rushed over to "socialize" herself to him as...she's scared of pups too!
So on that note...socialize your family / friends to the pup too while he's still young. :) ~I am Osy. Yes, yes, that person running away with your nihon ken in the distance. ~
I'm a clown. Well I used to have my own entertainment company. We were called clowning around entertainment. :-PYou can call me K (human) Her name is Stella (Shiba)
It's funny how many people are afraid of clowns. I think many parents took their kids to the circus and the clowns would play around with them at a young age. When you look at clowns with wild,colored, curly hair,a big red mouth, crazy clothes (plus they don't talk) it is scary. The list is great and MoJo was quite socialized by 16 weeks....socialized with the important things...people, children, other animals (not small hamsters and birds) and loud sounds (he was always calm) Car rides were great from the very start...and never car sick. Overall he's a well rounded little guy thankfully. Not scared of anything...not even clowns
I guess I am lucky! Moshi is only phased by bicycles and prams (perambulators to you lot...) out of the above. He likes the vet but was freaked out big-time when I took him for the snip (he must have sensed my guilt/worry...) He was socialised early and has never shown aggression to any human or animal, though he bites the ones he loves - strangers are OK.
One quirk: the park I take him to at work is usually empty, but when the council are cleaning it with their sweeping vehicles that makes him lose it... big-time!!! "Why are they here? It doesn't make sense!!!)