So, I've taken Nelly to the local shop twice, the local pub once and a few 'carried' walks and to the vets. Any other suggestions of what to do with her and where to take her?
We live in the country so our pup was introduced to Atv's, farm tractors, snow plowed, boats, guns as well as trips through town. He met Old people, young people. Makes, females, babies and children of all sizes. He met the mailman the garbage man and just about everything in between.
Take her to all of your places several times - and somewhere every day. Here is a good checklist - http://www.thelabradorsite.com/how-to-socialise-your-labrador-puppy/ ...
I used to take Harley to the end of our cul-de-sac as it has a lot of trucks, buses and cars. It helped her get used to traffic and not be scared of car horns etc. I also took her to the local coffee shop and sat outside with her as its in a small shopping centre.
People of all shapes, size and colours is important. Where I live, there are almost no people with very dark skin, and the first time my pups saw someone who did, they barked. It was pretty embarrassing! Luna met a rotund man in a wetsuit, carrying flippers and a body board yesterday. That's not on that list! Basically, the more different sights, sounds, smells, textures etc they get to experience, the more they'll be able to generalise new stuff as not being scary. As Mags says, don't just do it once and tick it off - it has to be ongoing, even once she starts walking.
The checklist posted above looks good! I'd emphasize the bicycles/motorcycles, and add: skateboarders, people with rolling suitcases/carts or other wheeled-things that make noise (or as our trainer put it, "half-human-half-vehicles"). Supposedly extra-confusing for them.
We took Holly to the train station and bus station. Our local supermarket was right beside the railway and was regularly passed by ambulances and fire engines. We'd sit outside and people would fuss her while all those noises happened. She met people in wheelchairs, pushchairs and and bicycles. We also invited friends around with their children which got Holly used to other people. We have a fairly chilled and sensible Labrador!
Definitely! I was at the airport with my lot yesterday evening. Luna (13 weeks) wanted to chase the suitcases. Shadow (2.5 years, never seen such a thing) was a terrified, shaking mess
