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Early Puppy Socialization

We know you want a confident and eager-to-learn puppy for your family. That begins here at Sunset Hill. We intentionally lay the foundation to increase your puppy's confidence and learning abilities.

We begin with Early Neurological stimulation (ENS) and Early scent Introduction (ESI). ENS are simple exercises to which you expose puppies from days 3-16 to help aid their development, resilience, and coping mechanisms.

Then at 3 -4 weeks old, we begin exposing them to new scents, textures, environments, people, other dogs, sounds and more. At that time, we also start potty training them! It is amazing how smart their little brains are!

Aussies and Socialization

Socialization is more than meeting new people. It is being exposed to new sights, sounds, textures, experiences, and more. Helping your puppy become confident while interacting with the world out there.

Aussies, by breed, have a wonderful ability to know when their environment changes. This helps them, if they are a working dog, become alert to change and keep their flock safe. But most aussies are family pets and we don't want them freaking out every time we rearrange the furnature or a new person comes over.

We know you want a confident family dog, so we begin early to help them get use to new things. Once you bring your puppy home, you can keep going with that. Take your new puppy places with you. Bring a long a mat for them to lay on and their favorite treats. Or you can keep them in your lap. Lots of yummy treats, pets, and snuggles help them associate good feelings happen in new places! Start slow, and allow your puppy to take their time. A busy coffee shop could be very overwhelming, but sitting off to the side in a low key, low attendance coffee shop and just "people watching" might be just right for your pup.

If you would like to learn more, check out AKC's site https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/puppy-socialization/