Back around the time that I first brought Tucker home, someone posted to the list an excellent "socialization checklist" of things to be sure and expose your puppy to before 6-7 months of age to maximize his experiences before that fear period set in. I can't find the original post (suspect it's on my other computer), but that list was so helpful to me. I've written below the things that I've made sure that Tucker has encountered in a positive manner in his young age (he's 8mos now) - it's by no means comprehensive, in fact I know I've missed some things like wheelchairs, sheep, goats, chickens etc (other barnyard animals), canoe rides etc, but I thought I'd share it for new puppy owners, and also to seek input on what I've missed. I'm lucky enough (IMO) to live in a small town so most of these things occur within a ten or fifteen minute walk, if not right outside our front or back door.
What would you add to this list? Outdoor Transportation: Plane ride home Lots of car rides - short and long (up to four or five hours) Boat rides Bicycles Dirt bikes Motorcycles Scooters Rollerblades Watch the train go by - hear whistles, rattles etc Air Brakes on big trucks (18 wheelers) Police, fire, ambulance sirens The Big Outdoors: Coyotes howling Dogs barking birds chirping, whistling and cooing Squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, mice Water - shallow and deeper, puddles, lakes, rivers, streams, wading pool Grass - short like the lawn Grasses - high in the field (waist high now - they grew along with him <G>) Sandy beaches Rock faces Woods/Forest Mud, glorious mud Climbing up on and over rocks, logs, picnic tables etc in the parks rabbit holes and groundhog holes Thunder storms and howling winds (I love these and I think the dogs pick up on that) Pouring rain Deep snow, shallow snow Paved and unpaved roads Around the House: Vacuum Hair Dryer Blender Oven Timer TV, Radio, Alarm Clocks Phone ringing Smoke Alarm Doors slamming Floors - carpet, tile, hardwood, linoleum Slippery PT deck, small stairs and large stairs Broom (his favourite) People: Hats, glasses etc Small children, larger children, teenagers Seniors Walkers Crutches Watching tennis, children's and adult's softball and soccer games at the park (through spring and summer we made this a part of at least two walks a week to sit and watch the games for ten or twenty minutes so that he'd hear clapping, cheering, cursing, hollering etc and watch people of all sizes running around madly after the ball <g> It was also a great way for him to meet kids of all ages since we don't have any) Other Animals: Horses Cows Cats Bunnies (domestic) Birds (domestic) Work/Office/Other Places/General: Fax machine Delivery guys (uniforms) Heavy machinery - lift trucks, order pickers etc (hang out in a Home Depot parking lot on a sunny afternoon and you get lots of socialization opportunities) Shopping carts Overnight stays in different places i.e. cottage, in-laws etc with us Scales at the vets (this has been a bugaboo - don't really know why) - we go the vet every month for a weigh in and treats - he loves everyone there Parades - been in two with him (small town, remember, a parade is about four blocks!) Carnivals - watched set up and hung around outside for an hour listening to midway sounds, rides, screams etc Puppy school - other dogs, different surfaces, mini agility equipment Brushing Tooth brushing Baths Nail clipping Picking out burrs
