Pup Meets Spooky Object: Introducing Your Dog to Novel Decorations

Anything new has the potential to be a spooky object to your puppy. Think about it: Things she didn’t encounter at her breeder or foster family are all new to her. That might include a dishwasher, blender, ironing board, and holiday and event decorations. To make sure you don’t leave anything out, we include categories of socialization in our book Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It. Our goal with socialization is to teach your puppy that novelty (things he hasn’t encountered before) is no big deal. Better than that, it may even mean opportunities for reinforcement.

Halloween is a great opportunity to introduce your dog or puppy to novelty, but it’s easy to overdo it. There are giant inflatables with moving parts, 15-foot-standing skeletons, talking pumpkins, and many more things that look weird or make sudden noises.

The process of teaching a dog that novelty is fun and not scary is the same for any age dog. But if you have a puppy in their sensitive period for socialization, it will likely go a little faster. But whatever the age, don’t rush. Allow the dog to get comfortable at their own pace, and pair all interactions with food or play.

Maggie Hunter of Rewarded Behavior Continues shows us how she started small with her gorgeous juvenile 18-week-old, Violet!

Phase 1

“MOTHER, WHAT IS THIS IN MY GARAGE??”

Maggie used the Control Unleashed (CU) “Look at That” game, plus treat and retreat.

What about Violet’s body language tells you she is a bit unsure in this situation?

Young vizsla looks at a black cat Halloween decoration and a black streamer. She is braced backward.

oung vizsla sniffs a black streamer next to a black cat Halloween decoration

Phase 2

“Hmm, okay, this is so far safe and also means snacks.”

More LAT plus the CU Ping Pong game at various distances.

What changes in Violet’s body language do you see? What do her body language and behavior changes tell you about how she feels about these new things?

Young vizsla sniffs a black streamer Halloween decoration. She is approaching closer than in the previous photos and her body is more relaxed.

Young vizsla sniffs a black catHalloween decoration that is lying on its side. She is approaching closer than in the previous photos and her body is more relaxed.

Phase 3

“Definitely safe!”

Maggie switched to less structured interaction and paid for sniffing, touching, mouthing, pawing, etc.

Young vizsla approaches a black cat Halloween decoration. She and the cat both have tails up, like a mirror image

Young vizsla has knocked over a black cat Halloween decoration and is taking a look , close up

Phase 4

“Oh, it’s even safe and means snacks if it moves!”

A black cat Halloween decoration is standing on a table and a young vizsla approaches with her jaw relaxed, looking happy and interested

Ayoung vizsla approaches gives a black cat Halloween decoration a good sniff

Phase 5

“I can work next to it, gimme snacks plz”

They worked on Violet’s known cue of of “Sit” and worked on shaping the new behavior, “Bow.”

A young vizsla sits next to a black cat Halloween decoration and a black streamer

A young vizsla bows next to a black cat Halloween decoration and a black streamer

Bonus

“Oh, is it also a toy?!”

Violet is so comfortable with the object that she carries it off!

A young vizsla is walking away with a black Halloween streamer in her mouth

Total time working with the novel Halloween decorations in the garage: seven minutes. This is a benefit of starting where your dog is comfortable. Knowledgeable dog trainers say, “Slow is fast.” They mean that by starting easy and going at your dog’s pace, you can often progress quickly!

Surprise!

Puppies are full of surprises. Your puppy will likely surprise you by being worried about something you consider no big deal (like the sound of a chair sliding across the floor). On the other hand, she may take a “ghost” hanging from a tree in stride and curiously investigate. As always, watch your dog or puppy’s body language and help her feel better about encountering new things. Because life is full of surprises, too. We can prepare our pups for a lot of them, though. Remember to start small!

Coyright 2024 Marge Rogers & Eileen Anderson