Abby Kennels' Zar Meets 100 People!

Zarko Zur Bindenburg is a stunning male German Shepherd puppy.  At eight weeks old, he still run-hops, has puppy breath and is small enough to scoop up before he gets into trouble.  Zar’s dark, soulful eyes can almost convince you that he’ll remain this innocent and friendly forever.  As they were leaving the Kennel, Zar’s owner casually mentioned reading that puppies should be introduced to 100 people by the time they’re twelve weeks old.  How true!

At Abby Kennels, the staff works hard to provide a safe yet stimulating environment for the puppies.  Once first shots are given, the puppies are slowly introduced to different people, noises, smells, surfaces ….  Their breeder, Kevin Lanouette, carefully chose the parents to complement each other and the puppies have a predisposition for a sound, stable temperament.  Once they leave the Kennel, it is up to the new owners to build on this solid foundation.

One of the most important things a new owner can do is continue socializing the puppy.    Friendliness in adult dogs is a critical character trait.  Properly socializing a puppy makes it less likely to develop behavioral problems as an adult.  Socialization can help prevent timid, nervous or aggressive behavior in your adult dog.

Once the puppy has been examined by a vet and given a green light, get out and socialize!  Bring your puppy everywhere you go.  Calmly introduce him to all kinds of people and situations.  Always supervise and be careful not to overwhelm him.  Keep visits short and friendly and make them enjoyable for your pup.  He should associate new people and experiences with pleasure. 

Introduce him to crying babies and running children and laughing teenagers.  Let him meet your mailman and your elderly neighbor and your loudest friend.  Bring him to parks and stores and anywhere you can think of.  Everyone loves a puppy – take advantage of that!  And don’t stop.  As your puppy grows into an adult, continue socializing on a daily basis.

We’d love to hear from you.  Share your socialization tips with us and we’ll publish them in a future blog.  And thank you Vickie for reminding us of how important socializing a puppy is.  We can’t wait to hear  about  all the people Zar meets!

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