Socialising or Socialisation is a broad term used to convey the early education of your dog. For instance, do not think that if you do not mix your dog with others at eight weeks of age that they will grow up to be a delinquent. Teach your puppy to come to you when you put it’s food down. Get your puppy to sit or wait before giving it the food. Send it to it’s own bed when you would like it to rest. All this and much more form part of the puppy’s security within it’s new environment. When the puppy has settled in after a week or two and has met a few other adults and children, you may wish to introduce it to other pets. rabbits, chickens, ducks could all be introduced. this should be carried out with care and be controlled by you at all times. At this stage of the puppy’s development it does want to pick up bad habits or be bitten or attacked by your other pets. Make it a quiet experience and do not allow excessive play to develop between the various pets.

Puppies have sharp milk teeth and will play bite until the age of about 5 months. Provide toys and nylon or rawhide bones to chew. Puppies also will try to jump up both people and kitchen worktops, this should be discouraged at all times. At this age you should encourage and praise good behaviour and verbally discourage bad behaviour. No more is required than to try to make your puppy feel part of the family and to allow it the security to develop fully into a valuable family member. There will be much work required as your puppy grows but for now teach it what is sufficient for good behaviour.

Remember until your puppy has been fully vaccinated it may not be wise to allow too close a contact to develop with cats and other dogs. After full vaccination it is not time to over exercise the pup and try to tire it with games which could over excite. Raise the puppy quietly, take it to local markets, shopping or to the park. In a controlled way introduce it now gradually to other people, dogs and sensible animals like sheep, goats, cows and horses. Do this only with the permission of the landowner or farmer. Also do this only if the animals are of good temperament, possibly with a more experienced Weimaraner owner to provide the correct approach, guidance and support.

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