PUPPY SOCIALIZATION CHEKLIST

Week 1-2 – The NeoNatal Period

• Cuddle and talk to each puppy at least three times a day
  
• Keep mom happy and relaxed
• Play soft music

Week 3 – The Transitional Period

• Increased individual cuddle/talk time with each puppy
• Introduce a few toys
• Place towels under puppy blankets to create obstacles
• Vary music

Week 4 – The Awareness Period

• First trip outside the puppy room
• Introduce more and varied toys
• Play with puppies as a group
• First trip outside, weather permitting
• Introduce puppy gruel and use this to begin teaching them to come when called
• Gently bounce and swing puppies while handling
• Take each puppy away from litter for a few minutes
  

Week 5 - The Awareness Period continues

• Each day, introduce something new
• Flashlight
• Blow bubbles
• Flicker room lights.
• Play different types of music
• A different flooring surface
• Different rooms or different places in the yard
• Create a mini-obstacle course
• Lots of play time
• Lots of outside time, weather permitting
• Bring visitors to play with puppies at least twice during the week
• Feed puppies in different rooms

 

Weeks 6-7 - The Human Socialization Period

• Give each puppy group and individual time with visitors at least three times per week
• Bring children to visit if possible
• Take puppies to a friend’s house to play
• Gently brush each puppy twice a week
• First bath
• Introduce crates
• Begin separating puppies when gone to work
• Complete the Rule of Sevens
• During individual time, begin to introduce each puppy to basic commands such as sit and come (only 2-3
  repetitions at a time).
• Basic leash training
• Car rides in groups and individually
• Puppies spend time crated alone
• More visitors
• More new places
• Lots of individual time with each puppy
• Lots of visitors
• Individual car rides
• Have a "used" stuffed toy ready to go home with each puppy
• Have each puppy potty on leash at least once