Important Frenchton Socialization Tips
Frenchton socialization starts when a puppy is old enough to play with its littermates. Puppies learn all the different cues a dog gives when playing, and they learn how to play gently. But Frenchton socialization shouldn’t stop after the transition from litter to new home. If you neglect to socialize your puppy, this can lead to behavioral problems down the line.
What is Frenchton Socialization?
Frenchton Socialization is far more than just introducing your Frenchton to strangers. It is slowly introducing your Frenchton to new sights, sounds, people, and smells and teaching them what is safe for them and what is not. It is also teaching them what is an appropriate reaction to something and what is not. For example, if you never teach your Frenchton how to greet strangers, then your puppy might decide that the proper greeting is a bite to the hand.
Important Areas of Frenchton Socialization
- Yourself / your family
- Other people
- New places
- Other dogs
How do you socialize a puppy?
First, you must start small. If you invite a large crowd of people into your home to meet the puppy, chances are he’ll get overwhelmed. New people mean new noises and smells. Large crowds will be especially loud to a puppy.
Start first by working with your puppy on your own. After all, you are basically a stranger to a new puppy. Pick them up, hold them, touch their toes and ears, and introduce them to all the new things in your home. There are all sorts of sounds within your home that your Frenchton could be afraid of, such as the ice dispenser, the tv, or a hair dryer. So try and think of all the possible things you can show your new Frenchton to help acclimate them.
Once your Frenchton is settled into your home and knows all of the new sounds and smells, you can start introducing your Frenchton to new people as well. Start small with just one or two people and begin teaching your dog how to interact with new people. If your dog only behaves with you, then you don’t actually have a well-behaved dog. The sooner you begin teaching your Frenchton what are appropriate reactions to new people, the easier it will be to stop bad behaviors.
Things that you can work on with your puppy are not jumping on people when they enter the house, not biting, playing gently, and being calm around new people. Some dogs may even be timid or fearful of new people. So introduce them to many new people, starting with a calm person, to help build their confidence around new people.
While you’re working on introducing your Frenchton to new people, you can also be introducing him to new places, such as the park, car, or neighborhood. Your Frenchton will need to learn appropriate behavior when in public and introducing them to new places early on will allow your dog to learn from you how to behave in public.
It is very important to be consistent with socializing and training your Frenchton at home. If you never take your dog out of your house, then you shouldn’t be surprised when the very few times that your dog misbehaves when it is in public, because they won’t understand the correct way to behave. As always, it’s best to start small. Don’t start by taking your Frenchton to a crowded park, but rather try a quiet neighborhood or go to the park on a less busy day.
And the last way you’ll need to socialize your dog is by letting it meet other dogs. Many dog owners forget that their dogs need to meet other dogs as well, to learn how to interact. Puppies learn to play gently with their littermates, but as they get older, they also get stronger. They will forget how strong their teeth are or how sharp their nails are if they don’t have the chance to play with other dogs as they grow. You will end up with a dog that you can’t bring around other dogs because they can’t play gently. If you introduce your puppy to other dogs, your puppy will continue to learn to play gently as it grows.
If your Frenchton is rough with other dogs its size, consider introducing them to larger dogs who can better discipline your puppy. But be sure to monitor dogs while they are playing, and don’t allow your Frenchton to play with another dog who might get too aggressive. Puppy classes are a great way for your dog to safely socialize with other dogs.
As with most other training you will do with your dog, make sure to keep Frenchton socialization positive. Reward good behavior with plenty of treats and praise. If you focus too much on all the bad things your puppy does and discipline your puppy for bad behavior, you might end up with a nervous and frightful dog, which can be just as bad as a misbehaved dog. A frightful dog may bite out of fear or end up with anxiety problems. So, even if you’re frustrated with your Frenchton because they are taking a long time to learn things, try to stay patient and positive as you train them.
Frenchton Socialization Helps
See our shopping page to view some of our recommendations for play toys and chew toys to help with the process of socialization for your wonderful Frenchton.
