DogBoy's Dog Blog

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of  getting a new puppy. However, it is incredibly important that you take precautions and prepare for their arrival beforehand.

You just got your brand new puppy, and you’re dying to show them off. Good news! Your puppy is excited too! They are curious about their new world and ready to explore. However, we all know the “real world” can be a dangerous place for a new puppy.

Here’s our guide for making your puppy’s big debut to the outside world memorable, rewarding, and safe.

You Don’t Have To Wait Until They Have All Their Shots

Yes, you read that correctly. If you wait until puppies have all their shots administered before taking them out then you’ve missed critical socialization time. If your puppy isn’t properly socialized then they can have:

• Excessive Fear
• Avoidance
• Withdrawal
• Anxiety
• Reactivity

According to the AVSBA, behavioral issues are the leading cause of death in dogs under 3 years old. Poorly socialized puppies often end up in shelters and are euthanized.

However, the socialization window occurs when your puppy is most susceptible to infection. You need to be careful and keep them away from dangerous areas. Puppy classes and in-home visits are safe ways to socialize your puppy. You need to wait until they’ve had at least 1-2 rounds of boosters to take them out in the general public.

When you are first thinking about training your dog, it’s very easy to get caught up in this cycle of questions:

• “Is dog training worth the money?”
• “My dog has no glaring behavior problems, why should I train them?”
• “What would me and my dog focus on in dog training?”
• “Does my dog really need dog training?”
• “There’s too many options, where do I even start?”

It can be difficult to figure out the answers to these questions, for your specific situation, by scouring Google, Yelp, and other internet resources for answers. Even if you do have a specific goal with your dog, where should you start? It can be tricky to make the right choice. The good news is, this week we are going to walk you through the different training service options we offer at DogBoy’s Dog Ranch to help you answer that very question.