The focus of all puppy training should be on socialization and prevention of unwanted behaviors in the adult dog (teaching to greet politely vs. jumping, teaching dogs that human skin is gentle so they can control their mouths, preventing resource guarding, etc.). Here are 111 socialization opportunities for puppies. I bet I could come up with at least 111 more! Please help improve this list by adding your own suggestions for additional socialization opportunities in the comments!
1.) Walking in the rain
2.) Walking on ice/snow
3.) Walking on sidewalk grates
4.) Walking on bubble wrap
5.) Walking on grass
6.) Walking on pavement
7.) Walking through sand
8.) Walking in mud
9.) Walking through a creek
10.) Walking on a mirror
11.) Walking on the scale at the vets office
12.) Walking over an A-frame
13.) Going through a tunnel
14.) Going over an a-frame
15.) Crawling under a chair, table, or your leg
16.) Riding in a wagon
17.) Walking on a buja board
18.) Being picked up/carried
19.) Having her ears examined/cleaned
20.) Having her eyes examined
21.) Eye drops (practice with room temperature water in a dropper)
22.) Having water sprayed on her
23.) Nail trimmings
24.) Veterinary holds
25.) Teeth brushing
26.) Being poked with various items
27.) Lying on her back while her belly and legs are examined
28.) Training her to voluntarily shove her nose into a muzzle for reinforcement.
29.) Being wrapped in ACE bandages
30.) Wearing clothes
31.) Wearing harness or collar
32.) Vacuum sounds
33.) Hair dryer (sound and use in grooming)
34.) Sounds of power tools
35.) Firework and thunderstorm c.d./sounds
36.) Doorbell/knocking sounds
37.) High pitched voices
38.) Low, gruff voices
39.) Raised voices
40.) People with sunglasses
41.) People wearing puffy coats
42.) People of various ethnicities
43.) People in wheelchairs, using crutches or a walker
44.) Traffic cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses
45.) Children
46.) Infants
47.) Tall people
48.) Short people
49.) Bicyclists
50.) Skateboarders
51.) Children running or playing
52.) Joggers
53.) Larger dogs
54.) Similar sized dogs
55.) Smaller dogs
56.) Adult dogs
57.) Senior dogs
58.) Adolescent dogs
59.) Other puppies
60.) Fluffy dogs
61.) Tall dogs
62.) Long dogs
63.) Black dogs
64.) Dogs representing as many breeds and groups as possible
65.) Cats
66.) Other small animals (gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, etc.)
67.) Farm animals (sheep, cows, pigs, ducks, horses, chickens, etc.)
68.) Walks in the city
69.) Walks in the suburbs
70.) Walks in rural environments
71.) Bathing
72.) Brushing
73.) Acclimation to carriers
74.) Remote control cars
75.) Loud music
76.) Stomping noises
77.) Car rides
78.) Fun visits to vets or groomers (just for treats and fun no procedures! Aim for 3 fun visits for each actual appt.)
79.) Baby sounds
80.) Swimming
81.) Squeaky toys
82.) Chew toys
83.) KONG toys
84.) Food dispensing puzzle toys (buster cube, Nina Ottosson toys, tug a jug, etc.)
85.) Tug toys
86.) Flirt pole
87.) Let your puppy spend the night at a friends house
88.) Practice separations
89.) Ask friends to puppy sit for you
90.) Gently restraining by holding collar, harness, or scruff
91.) Delivery people
92.) Visitors to your home
93.) People dancing
94.) Being placed on a table
95.) Being crated
96.) Stairs
97.) Going down a slide
98.) Start clicker training
99.) Start whistle training recall through classical conditioning
100.) Sound of balloons popping
101.) Sound of dropped pot, plate, or utensil
102.) Clapping noises
103.) Sandbox/digging pit
104.) Umbrellas
105.) People wearing hats
106.) Men with facial hair
107.) Crowds
108.) Ball toys tossed/rolled
109.) Going to a beach
110.) Going on a camping trip
111.) Attending puppy class
