The Top 5 Trainable Dog Breeds

Do you want to have a dog that can fetch, stay, roll over, plus many other tricks? If having a well-trained dog is your goal, but you don't have the time to work with stubborn or hard to train dogs, you may want to consider one of the following breeds:

Breed#01

Border Collie

Just watching these dogs in a dog park is proof enough that border collies live to work. They are always on task, and love to please. It is almost so easy to train a border collie that you don't even have to do any work.

Be warned, though - while training a border collies relatively easy, they MUST be worked regularly. Border collies don't just love to please and be put to work, but they actually really NEED to be working most of the time. Otherwise, this high-energy breed can be trouble if not allowed tasks to release energy.

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The Top 5 Trainable Dog Breeds

Do you want to have a dog that can fetch, stay, roll over, plus many other tricks? If having a well-trained dog is your goal, but you don't have the time to work with stubborn or hard to train dogs, you may want to consider one of the following breeds:

Breed#02

German Shepherd 

Do you think it is a mistake that German Shepherds are regularly used in the police force, military, protection services, and drug enforcement? Of course not!

Just a little bit of work and love will give you a dog that will be waiting for your next command. German Shepherds are also one of the most lovable companions!

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The Top 5 Trainable Dog Breeds

Do you want to have a dog that can fetch, stay, roll over, plus many other tricks? If having a well-trained dog is your goal, but you don't have the time to work with stubborn or hard to train dogs, you may want to consider one of the following breeds:

Breed#03

Golden Retriever

These dogs may seem goofy, and they are! But, they also want to please their owners. With the combination of willingness to please and their extremely loving attitude, it is no wonder that Golden Retrievers are commonly used in retirement homes and hospitals, as well as being service dogs.

Golden Retrievers are highly recommended for families with children. Not only can you train them so you don't have to have another "child" to worry about, but they will look out for and love your children.

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The Top 5 Trainable Dog Breeds

Do you want to have a dog that can fetch, stay, roll over, plus many other tricks? If having a well-trained dog is your goal, but you don't have the time to work with stubborn or hard to train dogs, you may want to consider one of the following breeds:

Breed#04

Labrador Retriever

Just like the Golden Retriever, Labs have such a willingness to please that they are the most common service animals. It doesn't take much to train a Labrador Retriever, and will always be by your side.

Breed#
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The Top 5 Trainable Dog Breeds

Do you want to have a dog that can fetch, stay, roll over, plus many other tricks? If having a well-trained dog is your goal, but you don't have the time to work with stubborn or hard to train dogs, you may want to consider one of the following breeds:

Breed#05

Standard Poodle

Results from several studies indicate that Standard Poodles may be the most intelligent of all dogs. They love to work for their owners, so they are a very frequent and visible entrant in AKC dog shows. They aren't just pretty. These dogs love to be trained!

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8 Hand Signals to Train your Dog

Getting your dog behavior training down pat will involve a lot of research on classic, tried and tested ways to get him to display the behaviors that you want. Included here are the right hand signals to master – which will lend a tremendous help in improving the way you communicate with your dog. This works not just during your training sessions but also outside of it. The idea of connecting hand signals with specific command will help your dog better understand what it is that you want out of him, thanks to the combined advantage of visual and auditory cues.

Furthermore, such hand signals will make training time better for the both of you. You will find yourself having an easier time controlling your pooch when you have familiarized him with it, too. Thus, training will develop at a much faster pace and results will be so much better when these hand signals are also used in everyday situations. Here are some must-learn and must-master dog hand signals that you need to teach your dog during training.

Hand Signal 1: The Open Hand Down

This hand signal is commonly coupled with your regular sit command. When you say ‘sit’, you have to move your hand palm down towards the floor at the same time. This is a very natural movement that your dog will easily and quickly pick up on. It is very simple to do and most dogs are able to connect the visual cue with the auditory one.

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8 Hand Signals to Train your Dog

Getting your dog behavior training down pat will involve a lot of research on classic, tried and tested ways to get him to display the behaviors that you want. Included here are the right hand signals to master – which will lend a tremendous help in improving the way you communicate with your dog. This works not just during your training sessions but also outside of it. The idea of connecting hand signals with specific command will help your dog better understand what it is that you want out of him, thanks to the combined advantage of visual and auditory cues.

Furthermore, such hand signals will make training time better for the both of you. You will find yourself having an easier time controlling your pooch when you have familiarized him with it, too. Thus, training will develop at a much faster pace and results will be so much better when these hand signals are also used in everyday situations. Here are some must-learn and must-master dog hand signals that you need to teach your dog during training.

Hand Signal 2: The Finger Point

This hand signal is the basic pointing with your index finger. It is a hand signal that you use with common commands such as ‘kennel’ or even ‘mat’. You may also connect this with actions or commands associated with agility training as it will work well with those, too.

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8 Hand Signals to Train your Dog

Getting your dog behavior training down pat will involve a lot of research on classic, tried and tested ways to get him to display the behaviors that you want. Included here are the right hand signals to master – which will lend a tremendous help in improving the way you communicate with your dog. This works not just during your training sessions but also outside of it. The idea of connecting hand signals with specific command will help your dog better understand what it is that you want out of him, thanks to the combined advantage of visual and auditory cues.

Furthermore, such hand signals will make training time better for the both of you. You will find yourself having an easier time controlling your pooch when you have familiarized him with it, too. Thus, training will develop at a much faster pace and results will be so much better when these hand signals are also used in everyday situations. Here are some must-learn and must-master dog hand signals that you need to teach your dog during training.

Hand Signal 3: The Thumbs Up

This is the universal hand signal for communicating a job well done. It works between people, and it will work with dogs as well! You can use this when your dog does a trick, follows a command, or displays good behavior. In no time, he will recognize this as a positive reinforcement. It is even better when you use this hand signal when you give him treat rewards or a clicker, to really emphasize the job well done.

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8 Hand Signals to Train your Dog

Getting your dog behavior training down pat will involve a lot of research on classic, tried and tested ways to get him to display the behaviors that you want. Included here are the right hand signals to master – which will lend a tremendous help in improving the way you communicate with your dog. This works not just during your training sessions but also outside of it. The idea of connecting hand signals with specific command will help your dog better understand what it is that you want out of him, thanks to the combined advantage of visual and auditory cues.

Furthermore, such hand signals will make training time better for the both of you. You will find yourself having an easier time controlling your pooch when you have familiarized him with it, too. Thus, training will develop at a much faster pace and results will be so much better when these hand signals are also used in everyday situations. Here are some must-learn and must-master dog hand signals that you need to teach your dog during training.

Hand Signal 4: The Finger Pointed Down

The finger pointing down is another common signal used in training dogs. It is a visual cue to the command known as ‘lie down’. You can also use this as a pick up signal for your dog as it will easily work with that, too.

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8 Hand Signals to Train your Dog

Getting your dog behavior training down pat will involve a lot of research on classic, tried and tested ways to get him to display the behaviors that you want. Included here are the right hand signals to master – which will lend a tremendous help in improving the way you communicate with your dog. This works not just during your training sessions but also outside of it. The idea of connecting hand signals with specific command will help your dog better understand what it is that you want out of him, thanks to the combined advantage of visual and auditory cues.

Furthermore, such hand signals will make training time better for the both of you. You will find yourself having an easier time controlling your pooch when you have familiarized him with it, too. Thus, training will develop at a much faster pace and results will be so much better when these hand signals are also used in everyday situations. Here are some must-learn and must-master dog hand signals that you need to teach your dog during training.

Hand Signal 5: The Palm Out Hand

When you put your hand out with the palm facing forward, you are giving your dog a very effective and very clear command such as ‘off’, or ‘stop’, or even ‘freeze’. However, with this hand signal you must take care to use only one command for it. If you use it across several types, it is likely that your dog will end up getting confused on what it is that you really want him to do. Choose carefully which command you would like your dog to associate the palm out hand signal with, and be consistent with it until he makes the connection.Source

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8 Hand Signals to Train your Dog

Getting your dog behavior training down pat will involve a lot of research on classic, tried and tested ways to get him to display the behaviors that you want. Included here are the right hand signals to master – which will lend a tremendous help in improving the way you communicate with your dog. This works not just during your training sessions but also outside of it. The idea of connecting hand signals with specific command will help your dog better understand what it is that you want out of him, thanks to the combined advantage of visual and auditory cues.

Furthermore, such hand signals will make training time better for the both of you. You will find yourself having an easier time controlling your pooch when you have familiarized him with it, too. Thus, training will develop at a much faster pace and results will be so much better when these hand signals are also used in everyday situations. Here are some must-learn and must-master dog hand signals that you need to teach your dog during training.

Hand Signal 6: The Time Out

This hand signal is traditionally used in sporting events to signal a break time for a team. It is also an excellent visual cue to use with your dogs. The best commands to make the connection with the time out hand signal would be commands such as ‘leave it’, ‘quiet’, or ‘drop’. It is also a command that is often used for deaf dogs or dogs that are hard of hearing, but feel free to use it on your hearing dog because it is a very nice visual cue that will go well with the aforementioned commands. One bonus that you will get out of it is that it is very easy for your dog to distinguish the time out hand signal with other hand signals because it really stands out, and so it is possible that he will take less time to obey it.

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8 Hand Signals to Train your Dog

Getting your dog behavior training down pat will involve a lot of research on classic, tried and tested ways to get him to display the behaviors that you want. Included here are the right hand signals to master – which will lend a tremendous help in improving the way you communicate with your dog. This works not just during your training sessions but also outside of it. The idea of connecting hand signals with specific command will help your dog better understand what it is that you want out of him, thanks to the combined advantage of visual and auditory cues.

Furthermore, such hand signals will make training time better for the both of you. You will find yourself having an easier time controlling your pooch when you have familiarized him with it, too. Thus, training will develop at a much faster pace and results will be so much better when these hand signals are also used in everyday situations. Here are some must-learn and must-master dog hand signals that you need to teach your dog during training.

Hand Signal 7: The Hand Out

When people bring out their hands in the hand out manner, others take it to mean that they would like to shake hands and will thus respond appropriately. The same can be said for dogs who have identified this hand signal. The hand out signal is commonly associated with the ‘shake’ command. You can also choose to use it for other commands like ‘come’, for exampl

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8 Hand Signals to Train your Dog

Getting your dog behavior training down pat will involve a lot of research on classic, tried and tested ways to get him to display the behaviors that you want. Included here are the right hand signals to master – which will lend a tremendous help in improving the way you communicate with your dog. This works not just during your training sessions but also outside of it. The idea of connecting hand signals with specific command will help your dog better understand what it is that you want out of him, thanks to the combined advantage of visual and auditory cues.

Furthermore, such hand signals will make training time better for the both of you. You will find yourself having an easier time controlling your pooch when you have familiarized him with it, too. Thus, training will develop at a much faster pace and results will be so much better when these hand signals are also used in everyday situations. Here are some must-learn and must-master dog hand signals that you need to teach your dog during training.

Hand Signal 8: The Two Fingers Pointed at Your Eyes

You might have seen this hand signal in movies or television shows to indicate that someone is vigilantly watching another person, and in the world of dog training something similar can be said! The two fingers pointed at your eyes is a great hand signal to use with your dog so he will train his attention to you. This is a great signal for when you want to communicate to your dog that you would like for him to watch you.

If you will notice, these eight hand signals are very easy to perform and are quite simple. They are designed to be just that for two reasons: 1) so it will be easier for you to recall them and use them during training, and 2) so your dog will easily recognize them and follow the said command and signal. Try to memorize the hand signals with the desired command prior to training to avoid making mistakes when executing them.

When you have not memorized the signals, your dog might get confused because you are not displaying consistency in training. When you have the hang of it, keep at it until your dog is showing signs of faster recognition and obeying. Get other members of the household onboard as well so everyone will know the correct hand signals to use and thus make training a lot easier for your dog!

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7 Tips For Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth

A healthy mouth is a good indicator of your cat’s overall health, but many cat parents ignore their cat’s oral health. By the time they’re 3 years old 70% of cats are showing signs of oral disease, according to the Foundation For Veterinary Dentistry. While an oral exam should continue to be an important part of your cat’s annual wellness checkup, developing a daily tooth brushing routine can go a long way in preventing damage and disease. Since brushing a cat’s teeth can be challenging, here are some tips to make the experience as easy as possible for both of you.

Tips#01

Massage and handle your cat’s face

Before you even think about going near your cat’s face with a toothbrush you’ll want to get her used to having that part of her face touched and held. Take some time each day to handle and massage her chin and jaw. Continue doing this for a few minutes at least once a day until she becomes familiar with the act and is comfortable being touched in that way.Source

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7 Tips For Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth

A healthy mouth is a good indicator of your cat’s overall health, but many cat parents ignore their cat’s oral health. By the time they’re 3 years old 70% of cats are showing signs of oral disease, according to the Foundation For Veterinary Dentistry. While an oral exam should continue to be an important part of your cat’s annual wellness checkup, developing a daily tooth brushing routine can go a long way in preventing damage and disease. Since brushing a cat’s teeth can be challenging, here are some tips to make the experience as easy as possible for both of you.

Tips#02

Massage your cat’s teeth and gums

Once your cat becomes comfortable having the outside of her mouth massaged, repeat the process on the inside of her mouth. Spend a few minutes per day massaging her teeth and gums. You can do this with your finger, a soft cloth, gauze, or a cotton swab.

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7 Tips For Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth

A healthy mouth is a good indicator of your cat’s overall health, but many cat parents ignore their cat’s oral health. By the time they’re 3 years old 70% of cats are showing signs of oral disease, according to the Foundation For Veterinary Dentistry. While an oral exam should continue to be an important part of your cat’s annual wellness checkup, developing a daily tooth brushing routine can go a long way in preventing damage and disease. Since brushing a cat’s teeth can be challenging, here are some tips to make the experience as easy as possible for both of you.

Tips#03

Choose the correct toothbrush and toothpaste

Never attempt to brush your cat’s teeth with a toothbrush or toothpaste intended for humans. A human toothbrush will be too large for your cat’s teeth and a human toothpaste can be toxic. Instead, pick up a toothbrush and toothpaste made specifically for cats.

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7 Tips For Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth

A healthy mouth is a good indicator of your cat’s overall health, but many cat parents ignore their cat’s oral health. By the time they’re 3 years old 70% of cats are showing signs of oral disease, according to the Foundation For Veterinary Dentistry. While an oral exam should continue to be an important part of your cat’s annual wellness checkup, developing a daily tooth brushing routine can go a long way in preventing damage and disease. Since brushing a cat’s teeth can be challenging, here are some tips to make the experience as easy as possible for both of you.

Tips#04

Give your cat a sniff and taste

Your cat’s nose is a huge part of how she explores her world and determines what’s safe. Letting her sniff the toothpaste and brush before putting them in her mouth will help her feel more safe and comfortable. After she has approved of the sniff test, dab a bit of the toothpaste into your finger and let her lick it off to get a taste. Cat toothpastes are formulated with your kitty’s palette in mind, so this should make her eager for more.

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7 Tips For Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth

A healthy mouth is a good indicator of your cat’s overall health, but many cat parents ignore their cat’s oral health. By the time they’re 3 years old 70% of cats are showing signs of oral disease, according to the Foundation For Veterinary Dentistry. While an oral exam should continue to be an important part of your cat’s annual wellness checkup, developing a daily tooth brushing routine can go a long way in preventing damage and disease. Since brushing a cat’s teeth can be challenging, here are some tips to make the experience as easy as possible for both of you.

Tips#05

Don’t rush it

Never force her through any part of the process. If she’s not comfortable with having her face handled, for instance, don’t continue to touch her face after she has pulled away and started to show aggressive body language. The way to train a cat is to let them lead the way. In order to successfully brush your cat’s teeth without stress you’ll need her to be on board and comfortable. Move at her own pace and respect her feelings when she pulls away. You can try again the next day. In the end, you want her to be able to associate the experience with something positive, so eliminate as much stress as you can.Source

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7 Tips For Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth

A healthy mouth is a good indicator of your cat’s overall health, but many cat parents ignore their cat’s oral health. By the time they’re 3 years old 70% of cats are showing signs of oral disease, according to the Foundation For Veterinary Dentistry. While an oral exam should continue to be an important part of your cat’s annual wellness checkup, developing a daily tooth brushing routine can go a long way in preventing damage and disease. Since brushing a cat’s teeth can be challenging, here are some tips to make the experience as easy as possible for both of you.

Tips#06 

Brush Daily

Brushing is most successful at preventing oral disease if it’s done every day. Plus, if you do it every day your cat won’t have to get familiar with the process again each time. Choose a time of the day that’ll work best for both of you and stick to it to easily create a routine.Source

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7 Tips For Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth

A healthy mouth is a good indicator of your cat’s overall health, but many cat parents ignore their cat’s oral health. By the time they’re 3 years old 70% of cats are showing signs of oral disease, according to the Foundation For Veterinary Dentistry. While an oral exam should continue to be an important part of your cat’s annual wellness checkup, developing a daily tooth brushing routine can go a long way in preventing damage and disease. Since brushing a cat’s teeth can be challenging, here are some tips to make the experience as easy as possible for both of you.

Tips#07  

Offer praise and rewards

Cats are reward-driven creatures. They will happily do things as long as they can see that, in the end, it’ll be in their best interest. Make sure to dole out treats (or your cat’s reward of choice) at the end of each step of the brushing process.Source

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6 Tips To Master Leash Training

Training your dog to walk on a leash is the first step toward being able to take him places. Once your pooch gets comfortable with the leash, you can go on walks around your neighborhood, bring him along to local stores, take him on hikes, etc. This is why mastering leash training is vital!

Let me start by saying each dog is different. Some take to the leash immediately while others can’t stand it. Some dogs will keep turning around to bite it and others tug.

Leash training my first dog, Diego, was somewhat of a nightmare. He didn’t want any part of the leash. He would tug on it, bite it, spin around and get tangled up in it. He would do anything but walk! On the flipside, my second dog, Gigi, mastered the leash within just a few minutes.

Check out the following 6 tips to help your dog master leash training in no time!

1) Choose The Right Collar And Leash
Before your dog even takes his first walk on the leash, make sure you have the right equipment. You should have a basic leash (like a nylon leash) that is suitable for your dog’s size. You don’t want to use a thin leash designed for small breeds if you’re walking a large dog (and vice-versa).

Also, a lot of dogs tend to tug on their leash at first (which I’ll talk more about in a minute). One way you can avoid/stop tugging is by putting your dog in a front-clip harness versus a collar. This makes it hard for your pup to pull because if he does he will be forced to turn around.


2) How To Introduce The Leash
The leash should be associated with positivity. Before you hook your dog’s leash onto their collar/harness for the first time, show it to them. Let them sniff the leash and explore it. Once you get the leash on, give them praise and a treat! It’s all about positive reinforcement and a feeling of security. You don’t want your dog to view the leash as “scary” or “bad.”

3) Try Walking With The Leash Inside First
Walking outside can be rather distracting for your young puppy. After all, there are so many stimulating sights and intriguing smells! To eliminate that distraction, try walking your dog from one room of your house to another (while he’s wearing his leash of course).

Start by standing with your dog in heel position (standing right by your side). It doesn’t matter which side he’s on. Next, reward him for being in that position. Then take your first step. If he stays in the heel position then give him another treat. When you’re starting out, go step-by-step. Reward him after every step once he rests in the heel position.

4) Take It Outside 
Walking on a leash with a human standing over you is unnatural for a dog at first. So you can expect your puppy to pull (even if he was successful with the indoor step-by-step exercise I mentioned in step #3).  If this happens the best thing you can do is to simply stop walking. Remain quiet and let your dog keep struggling to pull until he settles down. This may take a few minutes. Once your fur baby settles down, give him a lot of praise and a treat. Eventually, he will associate a loose leash with getting a prize.

5) Give A Lot Of Praise
I know I’ve been mentioning the importance of praising your fur baby with treats in the previous steps. Along with treats, though, you should also give your pooch verbal praise. A sweet sounding “good girl” or “good boy” can go a long way! I really can’t stress enough how important praise is.

6) Be Patient 
I’m not going to sugar coat this for you … leash training your pup can be frustrating. There will be times that your dog will pull you in one direction that you’ll want to pull him in the other direction. Just stay calm and be patient. Don’t yank him or yell at him. Dogs can pick up on your emotions. If you are stressed out, they too will become stressed out. Also, know that your dog wants to make you happy. He just needs to understand what you want!

5 Great Ways To Stimulate Your Dog

Dogs need both physical and mental stimulation. Just like humans, if your fur baby isn’t stimulated, he will get bored. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never let a dog get bored. Bad things happen when boredom strikes. When I say “bad things,” I mean, chewing things up (like my rug). My toy poodle, Gigi, can be a bit destructive if she isn’t stimulated. Sooooo … I make sure she is constantly entertained (or tired)!

Here are five great ways to stimulate your dog to make sure they are happy and content:

1) Work On A New Trick
A short 15-minute training session every day goes a long way. Think about it – every time you teach your dog a new trick, you are mentally challenging him/her. Dogs love a challenge and they love to learn new things. If you have a new puppy, start with the basic commands: sit, stay, down, come, etc. Once you have the basic commands down, move on to more advanced tricks: paw, roll over, etc. The amount of tricks you can teach your dogs is limitless. I mean, have you checked out the video of the dog who knows how to do laundry?

2) Play Games
Fetch is the big one in my house. My dogs can play fetch for hours. They would love if I never got any work done and just threw a toy across the room all day! Another great, simple, game to play with your dog is tug-of-war.

3) New Toys
Who doesn’t love getting new presents? When I come home with a big bag of toys from the pet store I am greeted with fast-wagging tails. It’s like they know the stuff in the bag is for them 🙂

If you are looking for toys to mentally stimulate your dog, there are actually board games and puzzles specifically designed for canines. Another great toy that will keep your pooch occupied for hours is a Kong.

4) Play Dates
I personally have two dogs, so they always have a friend to play with. BUT sometimes I schedule a special play date with my neighbor’s dog. They will chase each other around my home for a good 15-20 minutes. Then, after they catch their breath, they will grab some toys and play tug-of-war. Not only are they getting great exercise, they are mentally stimulating each other. Plus, if my neighbor tags along, we get to indulge in a nice glass of Pino Noir (double bonus)!

5) Run Errands With Your Pooch
A simple walk to the mailbox can occupy your pooch. If you’re dropping something off at a neighbor’s house or taking a quick trip to the local drive-thru, take your pup along for the ride. Whenever I run errands, I try to take my fur babies along with me. I figure, why should I make them sit home alone when they can get some fresh air and say hi to random people!

*Note: This is not encouraging you to leave your dog alone in the car. If I am stopping into a store that I can’t take my pups into, I make sure my boyfriend tags along and stays in the car with them. I am 100% against leaving my dogs in the car alone (no matter what the weather is like)!Source

7 Ways To Socialize Your New Puppy

What your dog learns as a young pup will stick with him for the rest of his life. According to Certified Dog Behavior Consultant Kathy Reilly, one of my go-to dog experts, the prime socialization period is typically between 6-14 weeks old. During this time, the synapses in the dog’s brain are growing a thousand fold. So it’s important to expose your dog to as many sights, sounds, and experiences as possible. Unfortunately, this is also a time that veterinarians tell us dog moms not to take our young puppies out in public because they haven’t finished their first round of vaccinations. So, until your dog is protected, you have to get creative! Here are some tips for new dog mommies looking for ways to socialize their puppy:

1) Let Your Dog Explore Your Home and Backyard
When you first bring your fur baby home, let him explore. And don’t rush this process. Let his paws walk on and feel the difference between carpet, tile, and hardwood floors. If you have a backyard that unfamiliar dogs don’t romp around in then let your unvaccinated pup experience the grass, dirt, and pavement. Let him sniff around. Watch him closely as he explores all of the new smells, sights, and sounds. You may be thinking to yourself, “How the heck does this help socialize my dog with people and other dogs?” But look at this as Step 1. Letting your puppy acclimate to different environments will help teach your puppy to easily adapt to new situations.

2) Gain Your Dog’s Trust
When you first bring a new puppy home, make sure to spend a lot of time with him. Play, nap, and do other things that will help you both bond. This will start teaching your pooch to trust!

3) Get Family and Friends Involved
If your puppy can’t go to the party then bring the party to your puppy. While you don’t want to overwhelm your little one, you still want to expose him to people of different ages, races, and genders while he’s still in that socialization period. Have one or two family members over for the afternoon to play with your new canine kid. When your dog is friendly and engages with new people, make sure to offer lots of praise and reward with a treat. Make it a real positive experience!

4) Schedule Doggy Play Dates
Along with getting your new puppy used to human adults, teens, and children, ask a friend to bring their dog over for a little playmate. Make sure you trust the other dog and he’s similar in size. While it’s common sense, I still want to note that if you just brought home a Chihuahua puppy, don’t invite a Great Dane to the at-home puppy party.

5) Go For Walks Around Your Community
When your vet says it’s safe to take your puppy out in public, start by walking him around your community or apartment complex. Get him familiar with the faces and environment that he will be exposed to on a regular basis. Stop to greet friendly neighbors and don’t forget to bring the treats along to reward your good puppy.

6) Go For Car Rides (And Take Him In Dog-Friendly Shops)
Again, the point is to get your dog used to seeing different people, animals, and scenarios, and feel comfortable while doing it. Expose your dog to people who are wearing hats and sunglasses. Let him see tall people and short people; heavy people and skinny people. So if you’re taking a quick trip to the store, either bring a friend or family member along so your dog can sit in the parking lot and people watch or take him inside dog-friendy shops.

7) Puppy Training Classes
Training classes are two-fold they’re great for socialization and you get to work on basic training. If you haven’t read my 4 Essential Commands To Teach Your Puppy article, I share the biggest mistake I made with my Chihuahua not teaching him the basic commands early enough. So find a well-rated training class and sign up!Source