When you get a new puppy, one of the most common pieces of advice you will be given is to socialise your puppy as much as possible. This is very sensible advice on the whole – your puppy’s habituation period is very short (around 16 weeks), you get your puppy from 8+ weeks old, and you also have to contend with limited outdoor exposure during vaccinations. All this leaves for very little time to get your puppy out making friends.
So socialising is important, but – and there is always a but, how you go about it, what level of exposure, and what to do when your puppy is socialising, are all important things to consider. You want the experience to be as positive as possible, so the latent learning your puppy gains is positive, but how this is done varies from puppy to puppy. Traits including their natural personality, breed, and experience up until this point all play their part, and must be considered.
What Is a Puppy Party?
A puppy party is usually hosted in a secure barn / village hall. Puppies are “released” into the secure space, where they get the chance to interact with other puppies
Who Should Be Hosting the Puppy Party?
As a bare minimum a dog trainer should be hosting, but ideally a canine behaviourist. Please, never be afraid to ask the host what experience and qualifications they have
What Should Be Happening During a Puppy Party?
The puppies should be learning how to interact with other dogs. This includes learning body language (“I want to play”, “I don’t want to play” etc), and play fighting. At a good puppy party, your host should also be giving you tasks to do with your dog during your time there
What Should I Be Doing During a Puppy Party?
The puppy party is more than just a socialising experience. You should be teaching your puppy when it is and isn’t ok to play with other dogs – and that, in part, you are to tell them when it is and isn’t ok.
The puppy party is also a great chance to teach recall – you can convey messages such as:
- “You must come back to me when around other dogs”
- “Coming back to me isn’t the end of the fun”
- “Coming back to me is part of getting to talk to other dogs”
Getting your dog to be obedient with you around other dogs is a tough task – and the puppy party is the perfect place to start teaching this
My Puppy is Very Shy – What Should I Do?
If your dog is a bit shy, we should be balancing the need for them to interact with respecting their wishes for space.
Here are a few key points for the owners of shy dogs:
- Don’t force your dog to interact with the other dogs – you will make the fear worse
- Let your dog approach the other dogs at their own pace. The more they learn to approach on their own terms, the faster they will get over their anxiety
- Do beware of bullies. If one dog is bullying the others and not being respectful of dogs that want their own personal space, ask the host to intervene
Conclusion
Puppy parties are great, and you should definitely go find a good one for your dog to join. Make sure your host is well qualified, and that there are more activities on offer than “go play”. Teach your dog to listen to you around other dogs, and stand up for your dog’s personal space if they are shy. And, have fun!