A Social Schedule is a comprehensive socialization list. The list is broken down into categories to ensure that you cover everything. Your puppy needs to be exposed to a wide variety of people, places, and things. Your objective is to successfully expose your pup to as many of the things on this list as possible.
People
Adults
Babies
Toddlers
Children
Teenagers
Seniors
Both genders
Different ethnicities
Animals
Friendly, healthy dogs
Puppies
Small pets (hamsters)
Large birds (geese)
Cats
Livestock (goats)
People with
Canes
Crutches
Legs in cast
Metal frame walkers
Wheelchairs
Guide dogs
Baby carriages
Baby carriers
Back packs
Luggage
Wagons
Shopping carts
Limps or odd gaits
Erratic body moves
Different Environments
Car rides
Socialization class
Vet clinic
Boarding kennel
Groomers
The bank
Video store
Gas station
Toll booth
Shopping mall
Friend’s homes
Public transit
Outdoor café
Country versus city
Elevators/escalators
Automatic doors
People in Uniform
Police
Firefighters
Postal workers
Vet clinic staff
Ambulance attendants
Crossing guards
Meter readers
Telephone worker
Couriers
People Wearing
Raincoats
Umbrellas
Sunglasses
Hats
Beards
Helmets
Costumes
Punk hairdos
Shaved heads
Athletic Folk
Joggers
Skate boarders
Cyclists
Roller bladers
Cross country skiers
Toboggans and sleds
Snow boarders
Surfers
Wind surfers
Speed walkers
Spectator at 10k run
Kayakers/canoeing
Hang gliders
People swimming
Water skiing
Hackysack
Martial arts
Bike couriers
Motor Vehicles
Motorcycles
Skidoos
Seadoos
Trucks backing up
Screeching brakes
Cars backfiring
Airplanes
Helicopters
Street cleaners
Snow plows
Garbage trucks
Construction Sites & Gardeners
Jackhammers
Cranes
Front-end loaders
Bulldozers
Sledgehammers
Power tools
Fork lifts
Carrying shovels
Wheelbarrows
Lawn mowers
Ride on mowers
Leaf blowers
Weed whippers
Electric hedge shears
Sweeping with broom
Garden hose
Sprinkler system
What to do if your puppy is frightened:
If at any time during Socialization your puppy is frightened — trying to run away, tail tucked, or attempts to bite:
- Jolly him up with a silly voice, a treat, or a game.
- If a situation is overwhelming your puppy, back away from the site until the puppy is relaxed agian.
- Start from this new distance to build up your pup's confidence.
- Gradually get closer to the stimuli.
- Your ultimate goal is for your puppy to be comfortable and confident around stimuli that was previously scary to him.
Home Environment
Phone ringing
Doorbell
Loud TV
Loud music
Hair dryer
Vacuum cleaner
Kettle
Dish washer
Washer/dryer
Electrical appliances
Dog in bath/shower
Domestic staff
Home office
Sweeping/mopping
Guests
Repair people
Delivery people
Different Surfaces
Stairs (up and down)
Sand
Wood
Ceramic tiles
Carpet
Slippery surfaces
Manholes and grates
Watery or wet
Grass
Gravel
Cement
Swinging bridge
Wooden dock
Tarmac (not hot days)
Astroturf
Mud
Ice