Socialization Scavenger Hunt

Here is a list of things to socialize your puppy around. Remember, socialization is exposure with pleasant consequences to teach acceptance of new experiences. Common sense goes a long way when socializing a puppy. If your puppy seems hesitant, go slower, let the puppy approach the person (not vice-versa), use rewards like food, praise and petting when the puppy does investigate something he was unsure of, and never force a puppy (this only creates fear issues later).

Ten different healthy, happy small dogs
Ten different healthy, happy big dogs
Ten different calm, well behaved, gentle children
Ten different calm, well behaved, gentle teenagers
Thirty different calm, well behaved, gentle adults
Ten tall people
Ten average height people
Ten short people
Ten people wearing glasses
Ten people wearing hats or hoods
Fifty different sounds
Five things red
Five things blue
Five things orange
Five things green
Five things purple
Five things yellow
One body of water, river, stream, or pool
Ten different vehicles
Ten things that are not in your house
Fifteen things you can only find outside
Twenty different ring tones
Five different surfaces (sand, grass, concrete, etc)
Five shiny things
Twenty different dog toys
One fence
Five street signs
One crate or dog bed
Touch each paw twice a day for one week
Twenty other people to touch or pet the puppy
Twenty other people to give the puppy a treat
See, be near, or interact with supervision, three other animals (cat, horse, etc)
Sniff on a walk at least five times, for at least ten walks
Respond to at least one easy cue (sit, target, paw, etc) in ten different situations (you’re sitting, standing, laying in bed, mowing the grass, carrying in the groceries, etc), in at least three different environments (outside, at your friend’s house, etc)
Eat a treat in twenty different environments (your house, outside, the vet’s, a friend’s house, on a walk, in the car, etc)