Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I used to have Aussies a long time ago and recently got a beautiful red merle puppy. I want to do therapy with her. We start puppy classes next week! Is there any thing else i can do to socialize her?

Welcome! Congrats on the new puppy and good for you for starting in classes!

Socializing is something that is very dog specific. I would certainly expose this puppy to a lot of new things in a calm safe atmosphere. I'd bring people into my home to play with the puppy. I'd bring home new textures and smells for the puppy. Everything yo uintroduce the puppy to shoudl be done in a calm nice way. Scaring a puppy (although impossible to not do sometimes) should be avoided, but that doesn't mean don't expose to things. Just control the interactions and learn to see in your puppy when things are becoming too stressful. Work with it and don't flood with overwhelming things.

There's so many things and your puppy class will certainly help. Get some books and read read and read some more.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

thank you, thats really good advice. Do you have any ideas as far as textures? I did the umbrella thing...she explored it and then started trying to play with it.

Hi,
Grats on your puppy.
Expose her to everything and then some.
Take her for walks on different surfaces, so nothing is new and unexpected.
We started taking ours to places that had cedar walks, paved walks, cement walks, gravel, and anything we could think of.
We sat outside of stores and had people who would show interest pet her and give her a treat so she learned people are her friends. She also got used to sounds that way, cars, horns, carts opening and closing of doors and all the things that go on around a store.
We sat by schools so she got used to yelling and screaming running children.
Anything you encounter in life get her used to.
Of course, you do this slowly and at a distance first slowly getting closer to the source of the noises and activities.
Baseball games,(little kids ones)use umbrellas by her, stores are great for people pushing carts also so those or anything like that doesnt frighten her. And people in wheelchairs or scooters.

Theres lots more but you get the idea.
Hope to see some pics!