Dogs, like humans, need proper social skills to be accepted in society. But many dog owners do not realize how important it is to socialize a puppy.  Without good socialization, your dog may cower and hide from unfamiliar people and places.  He may even be aggressive, growling and snapping!  Where’s the fun in that?

If you want your adorable new pup to grow into a confident and friendly adult dog, then try the following seven tips:

1. The socialization process should start at an early stage, as early as birth!  A breeder can gently handle the puppy several times a day to get him accustomed to people before he even opens his eyes. 

2. It is recommended that a puppy stay with his mother and siblings for the first 8 weeks of his life.  When his little eyes and ears open (around 2 – 3 weeks), he will begin to learn about the world that he lives in.  If the mother is a well-socialized adult, her calm and friendly attitude will rub off on her pups.  Here your puppy will also learn bite-inhibition.  If while playing with his siblings he plays too rough, they will put him in his place.

3. Bring your new puppy home to a quiet house so that he doesn’t feel frightened and overwhelmed.  Introduce your puppy to each family member, one at a time, and treat him like royalty for the first few days to allow him to settle happily into his new home.  After about a week, when your puppy is between 8 and 12 weeks, you can begin to introduce him to more people.  Invite people of different ages, sexes and sizes to your home to meet him.  Give your visitors treats to give to your puppy and praise him for a confident reaction.  If he gets scared and tries to hide, don’t “baby” him; instead, use a friendly voice to encourage him.  Show him that he has nothing to be afraid of.

4. You can even organize a few “play dates” for your pup.  Have a friend bring a small and friendly dog over to meet your puppy.  Always supervise these interactions carefully so that your puppy doesn’t become overwhelmed.  You want his experience to be a good one after all.  This experience will build up his self-confidence.  Now he can get excited about meeting all sorts of new things, people and places.

5. Make sure that your puppy is up to date with his shots. Other dogs may carry diseases and fleas that your puppy is not used to.

6. Enroll your Shih Tzu into a puppy obedience school.  This is a great way to introduce your dog to other puppies of various breeds and sizes, in a safe environment.

7. Show your puppy the world, one good experience at a time!  You will need to introduce him to as many new places, people and experiences as possible, but don’t try to cram it all into a few weeks.  Overwhelming your puppy will only hinder his socialization process.  Give him time to absorb each new thing he encounters.  One new experience a day is plenty.

While the most critical socialization period is between 3 & 17 weeks, socialization should not end at 17 weeks, but be an ongoing process.

The result of all your effort will be a confident, well-behaved and well-adjusted dog that is a joy and a pleasure to have.  So take a little time in the beginning to build strong social foundations that will last a lifetime.  He is going to be in your life for a long time – so make sure that he grows up to be the type of dog that you can take anywhere, and be proud of.

Chris Boshoff is a Shih Tzu lover, researcher and enthusiast. You can also learn about crate training your shih tzu or potty training your Shih tzu by visiting his website.

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