Socialization

Goal: A calm, confident companion for life

Socialization between 8–12 weeks is critical to teaching puppies to be at ease with humans, other animals, and the environment. It’s important for lifelong health and welfare, as well as the safety of family members.

• Limited socialization can cause fear of other animals, humans, or new places/sounds.
• Under-socialized animals often have a reduced quality of life and may have more difficulty receiving thorough veterinary care.
• Avoid major stressors (shipping, rehoming, surgery, stressful grooming) during the sensitive 8–10 week period—a single negative event can have lifelong effects.
• Provide early, positive exposure to a variety of people, healthy and well-behaved and vaccinated pets, and diverse environments.
• Include experiences with people in uniform, with assistance devices, and of different sexes, ages, and races.
• Expose puppies to children early, as kids look, sound, and move differently than adults.

General rule: Puppies should meet 1 new human every day. Fun clinic visits with praise and treats help create positive associations with veterinary clinics.

Common Socialization Misconceptions

• Puppies shouldn’t go in public until vaccines are complete: FALSE! Puppies in basic manners classes with vaccinated peers are no more likely to contract parvo than puppies quarantined at home. Socialized puppies are more likely to remain well-adjusted at home.
• Puppies need dominance or alpha rolls to learn: FALSE! Rough handling triggers fear, avoidance, and sometimes aggression. Avoid trainers using these disproven methods.
• Puppies will grow out of fears: FALSE! Puppies should eagerly explore their environment. Abnormal fear behaviors should be addressed early, as they usually worsen over time.

Socialization Bonus Recommendations

• Adaptil pheromone (collar or plug-in diffuser) to promote calmness in new situations.
• Anxitane (L-theanine chewable) for calm during car rides, vet visits, and meeting new people/pets.
• Decoding Your Dog, a must-read by veterinary behavior experts.
• Creating the Perfect Puppy (DVD) or Perfect Puppy in 7 Days (book) by Dr. Sophia Yin.

Nutrition

Goal: Support healthy growth without imbalances

Which Food?

Choose a puppy diet meeting World Small Animal Association’s criteria for selecting pet food. Brands include Hill’s Science Diet, Purina, Royal Canin, Iams, and Eukanuba.

How Much?

Follow package recommendations initially. Contact us if your pup is underweight, overweight, or growing too quickly or slowly.

How Often?

Feed 3–5 meals per day initially, then transition to 1–2 meals as your puppy matures.

How Long?

Feed puppy food until skeletal growth is complete: 6–12 months for small breeds, up to 18 months for giant breeds.

Large Breed Puppies

Select large-breed puppy food if expected adult weight >70 lbs. Look for AAFCO growth statement on the package.

Treats

Use small treats for training (limit to 10% of total diet). Cheerios or tiny bits of hotdog are effective.

Vitamins

Additional supplements are not needed if feeding a balanced puppy diet.

Pro Tips

• Stuff a Kong with canned puppy food for high-value, long-lasting rewards.
• Stuff a Kong with canned puppy food and freeze it for especially food-motivated pups.

Nutrition Bonus

• FortiFlora probiotic promotes healthy digestion and immunity.
• Petfoodology, a pet nutrition blog by Tufts veterinary nutritionists.

Potty Training 101

Teach that outside is the place to potty; eliminate indoor mistakes.

Protocol

• Overnight: travel kennel just large enough for bed, too small for separate potty area.
• First thing waking: carry/run to preferred potty spot on leash. Stand silently until done.
• Add cue word: say “potty” once while posturing.
• Reward immediately after elimination.
• Mission completed: play session + meal. Mission incomplete: return to kennel 15 min, repeat.
• Repeat 15–20 min after eating/drinking and after sleeping.
• Maintain strict routine until no mistakes for several weeks.

Pro Tips

• No unsupervised free time! Use gates or leashes to prevent accidents.
• Watch for cues: sniffing, circling → go outside immediately.
• Accidents happen: stay calm, interrupt gently, finish outside.
• Punishment only works within seconds; fear-based punishment causes sneaky indoor potty behavior.
• New locations may need refresher training.

Preventive Medical Care

Our Puppy Plan provides essential care during the critical first months of life and sets your puppy on the path toward a happy, healthy life!

Parasite Control

• Deworming: start at 2 weeks, continue until old enough for monthly preventives.
• Roundworm/hookworm are common; stool screening for other intestinal parasites recommended.
• Monthly heartworm prevention: we recommend Simparica TRIO.
• Flea/tick prevention: Simparica TRIO also effective against these.
• Learn more at Pets and Parasites.

Vaccines

• DAPP: start at 6 weeks, boost every 2–4 weeks until 16 weeks. High-risk environments may benefit from final booster at 18–20 weeks.
• Rabies: 12–16 weeks, usually at last puppy visit. Puppies under 10 lbs. may have separate visit.
• Bordetella: oral once between 8–16 weeks for puppies exposed to other dogs.
• Leptospirosis: 12–14 weeks, booster at final puppy visit.
• Lifestyle Vaccines (Lyme, Influenza) discussed based on risk. Check Lifestyle-Based Vaccine Calculator.

Human Safety

• Keep pup up to date on vaccines and parasite prevention.
• Avoid raw or freeze-dried meats.
• Pick up feces immediately.
• Don’t allow bare skin contact with contaminated areas.

Oral Health

• Puppy teeth are fragile: use a bendable chew toy like a Kong.
• Delay dental chews/diets until 6 months.
• Introduce gentle tooth brushing/wiping with pet-safe toothpaste.

We’re so happy you’ve chosen us for your puppy’s veterinary care. Raising a puppy is exciting but can be overwhelming. Reach out anytime—we’re here to support you every step of the way!