Pat Schaap, a Shetland Sheepdog breeder in Clarksville, Maryland, is credited for this list of experiences, people, and things that each puppy should have been exposed to by the time she reaches seven weeks old:
- Seven different types of surfaces: Carpet, concrete, wood, vinyl, grass, dirt, gravel, wood chips.
- Seven different types of play objects: Big balls, small balls, soft fabric toys, fuzzy toys, squeaky toys, paper or cardboard items, metal items, sticks or hose pieces.
- Seven different locations: Front yard, backyard, basement, kitchen, car, garage, laundry room, bathroom.
- Seven new people: Children and older adults, a person with a cane, someone in a wheelchair or walker.
- Seven challenges: Climb on a box, climb off a box, go through a tunnel, climb steps, go down steps, climb over obstacles, play hide and seek, go in and out of a doorway with a step up or down, run around a fence.
- Seven different types of food containers: Metal, plastic, cardboard, paper, china, pie plate, frying pan.
- Seven different eating locations: Crate, yard, kitchen, basement, laundry room, living room, bathroom.
Of course, seven shouldn’t be a limiting number. Pratt says she exposes her Golden Retriever puppies to 100 different people before they leave at 8 1/2 weeks.
For more details and advice on ways to socialize your puppy or dog, purchase Whole Dog Journal’s ebook, Socializing Your Puppy.
