Teaching Independence Through Solo SocializationWhile there will be lots of time our siblings spend together, it’s vitally important for their sense of self that they also engage in activities solo. We will be using a routine for all socialization outings of taking one puppy, then the other puppy, then if all went well, taking both puppies together, repeating this pattern.

Here is the typical Socialization Routine For Siblings:Solo Puppy 1: Field TripSolo Puppy 2: Field TripDid those both go well? If yes, Dual Puppy Field Trip Protocol, if no, repeat solo puppy field trip. This is one reason why raising siblings is just so much work. Because the normal puppy activities we do to train and socialize our puppies and adolescents can’t be done just once, or even twice, they are done three times. This is because we need to take each puppy individually, but we also need to take the puppies together, because once they reach adulthood we will likely want to take them placed together and we will need them to be extra polite and mannerly as a pair. For example, if I take one puppy to Tractor Supply Company at 10 weeks for a targeted socialization exposure to an indoor shopping location on Monday, on Tuesday I will need to take the other puppy, then if all went well they can go to Tractor Supply Company together. This is important because each puppy will have it’s own unique experience and since our job during socialization is to ensure our puppies are having a great time, and also practicing core skills, we can only do this if we take one puppy. Once we have taken each puppy individually we will know if both puppies were confident, taking food, and able to practice a couple known skills from home training. If not, we will need to take more solo outings to that location with one puppy at a time until BOTH puppies show us they are having a great time and are confident with this level of challenge. Then we need to take them together to specifically work on their core skills, because it’s important the puppies learn when they are together that manners behaviors pay off big time. So, Monday I might take Puppy 1, and Tuesday Puppy 2, and then Wednesday take the puppies together. Or I might take the puppies solo during the week and not take them together until Saturday. In a Puppy Led system we will look at the observable behavior to tell us if our puppies are ready for a dual puppy trip.

There are three easy ways to observe if our puppy is having a positive socialization experience.1. The puppy is eager to enter and start the experience.2. The puppy is eager to explore the new location, with lots of sniffing and interacting with the environment.3. The puppy is eager to eat the treats you have brought, and is able to perform a couple behaviors they have learned at home (such as eye contact, “check ins”, sit, or The Name Game)A confident puppy is ready for a new experience, a hesitant one should repeat the experience until it’s confident.

Why all this work? To prevent hyper bonding, which prevents puppies from developing confidence being on their own and is one of the most serious problems encountered when raising siblings.

To ensure each puppy is having proper and effective socialization experiences, these require the puppy has a good time and someone attending to their emotional experience.

To ensure each puppy is building a strong bond with their owner. Strong bonds are built on one to one interactions that are predictable and pleasant.

To ensure each puppy is learning the life skills we think they are learning and further, that they can use them in public. Throughout our siblings lifetimes, it’s important to continue this system of taking each puppy individually just as often as the dog goes as part of a team to ensure they remain confident as individuals.

Teaching Independence Through Separation: Socialization