Who is Your Puppy Learning From?
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Remember, your new puppy is like a sponge, she’ll absorb and learn from everyone she associates with, so keep an eye on her four footed role models!
Just like with children, puppies quickly pick up behaviors and begin to imitate the older more mature friends they spend time with. If your neighbor wants their barky Jack Russel Terrier “Bosco” (who loves to run off, ignores their shouted commands, and is more than a little on the disobedient side of things), to spend lots of time having play dates with your little angel, be aware that your baby could quickly begin to display some of the same hard to correct behaviors if she spends too much time with Bosco on a regular basis!
Try to tactfully keep interaction with dogs who are not good role models to as much of a minimum as possible,
or you’ll have a little Bosco of your own before you know it! “Bad company corrupts good morals” be they canine or no! That being said, playtime is important for dogs of all ages, there’s no better way for your puppy to learn how to be a stellar canine companion than to observe the great dogs in your circle of family & friends and have them help her learn the doggie ropes. Rather than wrap your puppy in cotton wool & never allow her to put a paw to the ground when other canines are around, just be a good observer and if you think things are heading in a direction you prefer your puppy not go, don’t be afraid to scoop her up for a bit of a time-out until the rough housing ends or the less than well behaved Fidos head to greener pastures! Let her practice a bit of patience and either pop her in her crate for a nap or hold her out of harms way until calm reigns.