There are one million things you can buy to pamper your new puppy, but appropriate socialization — and lots of it — is more valuable than any fancy collar, plush toy or monogrammed dog sofa. If you got your puppy from a responsible breeder, the socializing will have already begun. From birth the litter […]

  Socializing puppies has traditionally been considered the responsibility of the new owner. We instruct new owners to take the puppy to classes and make sure they are exposed to a variety of people and situations. But recent research shows that encouraging a stable temperament can start even before puppies are born. Breeders can do […]

  It’s possible the key to understanding social intelligence in humans might be sniffing his own butt at this moment. New research conducted by scientists at the University of Arizona found that dogs have similar social skills to two-year-old children. The researchers, who published their findings in Animal Behavior, examined the ability of dogs (including […]

Socializing puppies has traditionally been considered the responsibility of the new owner. We instruct them to take the puppy to classes and make sure they are exposed to a variety of people and situations. But more research shows that encouraging a stable temperament can start even before puppies are born. Breeders can do a lot […]

Socializing puppies has traditionally been considered the responsibility of the new owner. Breeders instruct their puppy buyers to take the puppies to classes and make sure they are exposed to a variety of people and situations. But research shows that encouraging a stable temperament can start even before puppies are born. Breeders can do a […]

Much has been written about the need for socializing puppies at an early age, but sometimes even an experienced breeder might forget about this necessity, especially if it's been a while since they raised a litter. One of the things I’ve learned during my almost 50-year involvement with Italian Greyhounds is that this breed is […]

MACH Sir Tucker MXB MJG MXF MFB T2B3 CGC owned by Scott & Denise Beaumont of Granite Falls, WA In November 2010, Scott & Denise helped “socialize” a litter of 8-week-old Aussie mix puppies at Lil’ Waif Puppy Rescue, not intending to bring one home. “But Tucker chose us that day.  Thankfully he did,” Denise […]

Every litter is a new and exciting adventure. The months of research into pedigrees, rereading notes on dogs that appear in various pedigrees and evaluating their influences, have come to fruition, and the future is now in the whelping box. The genetics are set; now the puppy socialization  begins. Handling puppies daily from day one […]

Is every attempt to "socialize" a puppy really good for him? Sometimes puppies are forced to endure unpleasant, emotionally damaging situations when their owners follow advice that was given with good intentions. To ensure that our pup receives every opportunity for optimal mental and physical development, we often need to stop, take a calming breath, […]

Ask AKC   Dear AKC: My question deals with how Yorkshire Terriers socialize. Do "Yorkie" females get along better with other females or with male Yorkies? We have been told varying opinions and need to know, as we are in the process of purchasing another Yorkie and need to pick the correct gender to get […]