Having a social and well rounded dog is an important part of pet ownership. Giving your dog new experiences improves his personality andy can help him have a full and happy life. Here are 3 tips on encouraging the development of a social, well rounded animal.

The best time to buy a puppy is between the ages of 6 to 8 weeks. This is time enough for the puppy to have been completely weaned from its mother and be ready to begin bonding to you. If you delay this process by waiting or keeping the puppy in a kennel, he or she will become more dog oriented, will generally not make as good of a companion and will be more difficult to train and less obedient.

Make sure your dog meets and interacts with a wide variety of different people at an early age. If you keep your dog at home all day or have him chained up in the back yard, he will become very attached to you, but will be shy of strangers, which can create problems for you when you have friends over or need to leave him with a petsitter.

Make sure your dog experiences lots of different places. If you keep your dog in an apartment all day, it will be harder for him to adjust to changes he may go through in your lifetime. The best time to start taking your puppy out and about is from about 12 to 16 weeks of age. (Never take an unvaccinated puppy to public places.) Take your dog with you everywhere you go, allowing him to experience busy, loud, quiet and crowded places. This will also conquer and prevent many fears your animal may experience.

Follow these steps and you and your dog will be well on your way to a happy, healthy, friendly life. Remember, a good relationship with your animal is easy and will give you both a friend for life.

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Teaching your new puppy to recognize its name is the first type of dog training that you will most likely experience. You can use the following simple and easy tips to train your dog to know its name.

1. When choosing a name, keep it under two syllables. Using one or two syllables makes it easier for your dog to recognize and easier for you to say.

2. Your puppy will want to follow you around constantly. As this is happening, say his or her new name repeatedly. The dog will become used to this sound.

3. Crouch down and pat the ground in front of you as you say the pups name. “Here BoBo, here BoBo” When the puppy comes to that spot then praise it with petting and affection.

4. Call out the dog’s name with every interaction you have with it. For example when you play with it – call out the dogs name repeatedly. The same goes when you are feeding it, brushing it, laying next to it, etc. Each time the dog looks up at you after calling out his or her name – pet it and praise the dog with love.

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This dog trick may be an old one, but it is still fun. It is extremely simple to teach as well. Most pet owners can teach this trick within a day if done repetitively and with positive reinforcement. In a nutshell, all you have to do is run through the following motions using a a treat and a small amount of pressure to get the dog down in the “dead” position.

Shout the command “BANG”, while pointing one hand like a gun, and coax the dog down on its side with your other hand. Once he is laying down, give the dog a treat and praise him enthusiastically.

Repeat this process at least ten times, or until the dog gets used to laying down. Eventually, after many times of doing this over and over the dog will look forward to immediately laying down on its side when hearing “BANG!”

If you would like to teach your dog to play dead from the sitting or standing position, then simply get your dog’s attention by calling his name. Then go and lean over him as you initiate the “BANG!” command (pointing your finger of course). Once the dog lays over, then give him a treat and plenty of praise.

Repeat this process again but stay about 2 feet away from the dog. Keep repeating the process further and further away and before you know it your pet will perform the trick at any distance so long as it hears you say “BANG!”

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