Here's my story about raising a people-friendly dog - I'm sharing this because I wish someone had told me earlier.
There’s a short developmental window in every dog’s life when they’re extremely sensitive to their environment.
The number of positive encounters they have with other people and dogs during this period, which ranges from just a few weeks old to 3 or 4 months of age, can dramatically influence how friendly they are as an adult.
I wish I had known this sooner.
if you’re getting a puppy, look for one who’s been raised around people.
Watching Luna go through this was heartbreaking.
admittedly, parents of young pups are in a bit of a catch-22.
Other dogs do most of the work here.
When puppies play-fight, they teach each other not to bear down with their jaws when they bite.
Reinforce bite inhibition when you’re playing with your puppy.
When your young pup mouths you, respond with a yelp or “Ouch!” Then stop playing and ignore your pup for a minute or two.
Watching Luna go through this was heartbreaking.
learn to give time-outs.
I learned this the hard way, but at least Luna is okay now.
make sure your children know how to react to biting and mouthing.
I learned this the hard way, but at least Luna is okay now.
with a little forethought and training, you can raise your puppy to become a people-friendly dog..
If you're going through something similar, know that you're not alone. And definitely talk to your vet - they know way more than I do!
Source: This article is based on information from DogTime