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Socializing Your Puppy - How to Avoid Trouble Down the Road

In conducting home visits as part of the rescue adoption process, we occasionally run across people who have previously purchased a puppy from a novice or commercially motivated breeder. Unfortunately, the relationship between these breeders and the buyer usually ends once the money and the puppy change hands. As a result, the new owner has nowhere to turn when they have questions about proper feeding, socialization, and training of their puppy, which can lead to problems down the road.

One problem that we see during our home visits are dogs that have not been properly socialized. They end up thinking they are the "leader" in their homes and display such behaviors as on-leash aggression, territorial and aggressive behavior (such as lunging and growling) at the front door, and territorial behavior towards guests and children in the home. This type of behavior can have unpredictable results and it is not uncommon for these types of dogs to end up biting people and/or other dogs.

This type of behavior is NOT normal or desirable. Too many people allow a "small dog" to get away with behavior they would never accept in a larger breed. They wonder why they have behavior problems with their dog. They wonder why their friends and family are uneasy around their dog or even refuse to come to their home. Although a dachshund is a small breed, they are powerful and a bite from a dachshund is a serious matter. Children who bend down to pet a dog like this are likely to be bitten in the face while adults may be more likely to be bitten on the leg.

Socialization and training makes a difference! This is not something to do "when you get around to it" but is something you need to start from "day one" with your puppy. The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine agrees that the critical socialization period lasts until a puppy is about 3 months old. However, following that, the puppy must continue socialization to refine its social skills.

Novice and commercially motivated breeders usually do not concern themselves with proper socialization of their puppies - they want to get rid of them as quickly as possible so as to produce another litter to sell. Puppies from these sources will be socially disadvantaged, so it is critical to begin socializing the puppy right away. It can become a difficult and time-consuming process and some owners are not willing to invest the time, energy, money or patience to succeed. This is one reason that owners end up calling a rescue program for advice or help - failure to properly socialize their dog. Some hope to surrender their unsocialized dogs to a rescue program, but no reputable rescue program will accept an aggressive dog.

Here are some tips to get you started in socializing your puppy.

  • DO make sure the experiences your puppy has are happy and non-threatening.


  • DO invite a variety of friends over to meet your new puppy, but not all at the same time as this can be overwhelming. Include men, women, children, tall people, short people, men with and without beards, etc. The more variety the better.


  • DO invite healthy, vaccinated dogs to your home to visit and interact with your new puppy. With dachshunds, it is probably best to stick to other small breeds to avoid possible injury to the puppy.


  • DO take your puppy for short, frequent rides in the car and stop the car to let the puppy look out the window and observe the world around him/her.


  • DO expose your puppy to shopping centers, parks, school playgrounds, etc. - places where there are crowds of people and a lot of activity. Be sure your puppy is fully immunized before doing this.


  • DO introduce your puppy to things like umbrellas, vacuum cleaners, dust busters, garbage bags, etc. Encourage your puppy to safely investigate these new items.


  • DO get your puppy used to being brushed, bathed, and having their nails clipped, ears cleaned and teeth brushed.


  • DO get your puppy used to a harness or collar and leash. Start out by taking short walks up and down the driveway, and graduate to longer walks through the neighborhood.


  • DO introduce your puppy to anything in your home that the puppy will be exposed to regularly (i.e., someone practicing the piano, playing the trumpet, using a hair dryer, using power tools, etc.)


  • DON'T make your puppy's first experience with new things painful and frightening, or you will be defeating your purpose. It is better to go slowly and ensure your puppy is not frightened or injured than to rush and force your puppy to meet new things and people.


  • DON'T put your puppy on the ground where unknown animals have access. This is where your puppy can pick up diseases. Wait until your puppy's shots are completed. Stay away from dog parks until the puppy has had all four sets of his/her shots.


  • DON'T let your puppy socialize with dogs that appear sick or dogs that you don't know, or that may not be vaccinated.


  • DON'T reward fearful behavior. In a well-meaning attempt to calm your puppy when it appears frightened, you might be unintentionally rewarding this type of behavior. It's normal for a puppy to show some signs of apprehension when confronting anything new and different. For example, don't pick up your puppy and cuddle it when it shows fear. This only reinforces your puppy's idea that being fearful was the desired behavior. Instead, calmly and firmly pat your puppy's side, lower your voice and calmly tell him what a brave dog he is. Then move on to a safer location and occupy his brain by focusing on something else.


  • DON'T do too much at one time. Young puppies need a lot of sleep and they tire quickly. It is more productive to have frequent and very brief exposures than occasional prolonged exposures.


  • DON'T WAIT!! Every day that goes by is an opportunity lost forever. You can never get these early days with your puppy back. If socialization does not happen at an early age, it will be much more difficult to socialize your dog later. You can re-do socialization problems but it is MUCH less time consuming to do it when the puppy is young. Time put in early is well rewarded later on in life.


    • If, after following these tips, your dog still lacks proper social skills, then basic obedience classes may be of some help; however, we recommend you contact a skilled trainer for assistance. DFW Dachshund Rescue has had success with trainers from Barkbusters.

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