Socialisation

AVSAB identifies the first three months as an especially important socialisation period. Socialisation means building comfortable responses to people, animals, handling, sounds, surfaces, and environments. It does not mean greeting every dog or tolerating overwhelming situations.

Let your puppy observe at a distance, pair new experiences with things they enjoy, and keep encounters short. If they freeze, hide, try to escape, or seem overwhelmed, give them space and make the experience easier. Avoid forcing contact.

AVSAB supports safe socialisation before full vaccination, while avoiding higher-risk places such as dog parks. Ask your vet about local disease risks, safe carried outings, and contact with known healthy, vaccinated dogs.

AVSAB says well-run classes may begin at 7–8 weeks with at least one vaccine set given at least seven days before class and an initial deworming. This is not automatic clearance: your vet and class provider must agree that their requirements and your puppy’s health make attendance appropriate.

Introduce household sounds, gentle visitors, car travel, and handling a little at a time. Good classes use rewards and let puppies take breaks. Continue positive introductions as your puppy grows rather than trying to finish a checklist in a single week.