Puppy socialisation
The window closes around sixteen weeks. What a puppy meets calmly before then it generally accepts for life; what it does not meet, it may spend years learning to tolerate.
Calmly is the word that matters
A puppy dragged up to six children is being frightened, not socialised. If it is worried, you are too close — more distance, less time, and food.
The vaccination problem
Most owners spend the entire window waiting for a second jab. Carry the puppy, use a friend’s clean garden, sit in the car park and watch the world. Talk to the vet — most will tell you the behavioural risk outweighs the infectious one.
1
Add a date of birthThe window counts down from it.
2
Work through the categoriesPeople, dogs, places, surfaces, sounds, handling.
3
Tick only the calm onesA frightening encounter is worse than none.
4
Keep going after sixteen weeksSlower, not impossible.
FAQ
Is sixteen weeks a cliff?
No. It is where it gets harder, not where it stops. A seventeen-week puppy is not a lost cause.