16 May Second Chance: Truth About Socializing a Pup!
Second Chance Humane Society’s Animal Resource Center (SCHS) and Thrift Shops have been serving San Miguel, Ouray and Montrose Counties since 1994. The shelter is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday 11 to 5:30. Community veterinary services are available by appointment.
View shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.
Go here for more on Dr. Shari DePauw of Second Chance. Second Chance veterinary clinic is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Call (970) 626-9713 or email clinic@adoptmountainpets.org
Go here for more options from Second Chance.
Bringing a puppy home is fun, exciting – and a lot of responsibility. Most parents know they need to “socialize” a puppy to help them become a valued member of a family. Your dog’s brain is actually most capable of processing and accepting new experiences between 3 and 14 weeks old. This timeframe is commonly called the puppy socialization period, during which you should aim to expose your puppy to as many different experiences as possible. Socialization can benefit dogs of any age, but it’s especially important for puppies. That’s because dogs who miss out on a wide range of positive experiences during the puppy socialization period tend to be more anxious throughout their lives.
A well-socialized puppy creates a behaved, relaxed, safer dog. If your puppy is comfortable in a wider variety of situations, they’re less likely to use aggression in moments of fear. Not socializing your puppy can lead to dangerous situations in the future. According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, the number one cause of death for dogs under three is behavioral issues, not infectious diseases.
Many pet parents think that “puppy socialization” means introducing your puppy to other dogs, taking him to the dog park, walking her around the neighborhood, and maybe sitting with you on a restaurant patio where there are other people. Honestly, there’s a lot more to it than that.
Socialization means introducing your puppy to the whole wide world. They need to experience different types of people, places, senses, creatures, and objects they’ve never seen before. A variety of exposures is key to proper and successful socialization. Yes, introduce your puppy to all types of other dogs and puppies, starting in controlled spaces with dogs you know. Later, he may be ready for the dog park. Equally important, your puppy needs to meet people of all ages, genders, sizes, and races. Give your pup wide experiences with sights and places (such as town, neighborhood, stores, and the great outdoors), smells, sounds, and textures (like different flooring types, gravel, pavement, and grass). Walk your puppy in and out of buildings, rooms, fences, and vehicles. Different types of touches are part of proper socialization and will make visits to the groomer or vet less frightening.
When socializing your puppy, take it slow and be aware of your puppy’s limits. Make the interactions positive and give plenty of treats and praise. Everything is new, so every encounter is an opportunity to make a positive association. Your role is being the leader. Alpha. Keeping the puppy’s focus and attention will serve to build his confidence in unfamiliar situations. The key to successful socialization is more predictable reactions when encountering unfamiliar sights, sounds, textures, smells, places, animals, or people.
If you need help with puppy socialization, reach out to a trained expert who might offer puppy socialization classes or guidance.
Bear and Panda are just two puppies available for adoption in the coming days and weeks at Second Chance.
Panda
Bear
AND… To continue the Second Chance Highlights section, we want to share the following:
Pasque Needs Your Help!
Pasque is a young, male cat who we suspect was hit by a car in Montrose on April 9. He was brought to our Second Chance Veterinary Team in Ridgway, who addressed his immediate medical needs.
Despite his discomfort, he was responsive and friendly, purring while being treated! He is such a sweetheart!
It was clear to Dr. DePauw that his eyes needed specialized medical attention. Either because of a birth defect or an injury, the lens in each eye has been pushed in front of the pupils. This is causing severe sight problems and discomfort. We are managing his pain, but he needs surgery that can only be performed by a board-certified ophthalmologist. We have located a surgeon in Boulder and can transport him there, but we need your support to save his eyesight. Pasque is only 2-years-old. We will do all we can to keep him from going blind.
The surgery will cost an estimated $4,000 on top of the other costs that Second Chance has incurred in providing care for Pasque.
Our philosophy at Second Chance is that every animal needing our assistance will get it, whether it is easy or not.
We will do everything we can for Pasque. As he keeps fighting, we will continue to fight for him.
Our budget for veterinary care is limited. In the case of Pasque, there is no owner to pay the bills. He is ours to care for.
Please donate to the best of your ability and help us save Pasque’s eyesight.
Thank you!
We’re Hiring for Our Telluride Shop, which re-opens May 25 at noon.
Click here to see job description. Email Lynda for more information or to apply.
We also need volunteers.
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