Talos learned about stairs today. In an effort to expose him to as many things as possible, it's critical that he see not just one type of steps, but as many as we can find. So today, we dressed him in his service dog vest and took him to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where my husband works. It's a fantastic place to socialize a dog: there are rolling carts, long, shiny hallways, cafeterias filled with lots of people, noise, and dropped food, and stairs. Lots of stairs.
Today Talos saw regular old plain-jane stairs, spiral stairs, stairs without risers, and glass stairs. He was only a bit tentative about going up stairs, it was going down those stairs that presented the problem. With a little bit of patience and a lot of cheerleading, Talos successfully managed to go up and down each type of stair to which we introduced him. And actually looked quite proud of himself by the end!
Realizing that not many people have the same degree of access that we do because Talos is a service pup in training, you can still find ways to expose your dog to all kinds of novel experiences. Many eateries allow dogs on the patio, outdoors. Find a nice little bistro near your home and bring your pup along with you. You'll want to bring a little pad on which he can rest, a chew toy or two, and water for your pup. Don't plan to stay long, just maybe have a sandwhich and then move along. It's unreasonable to ask a pup to sit quietly for too long...
Summertime affords so many opportunities to expose your dog to novel situations. Go to your local park and find a nice spot - just sit and watch the world go by with your pup. Your goal is to have the pup see so much stuff that it all becomes routine after awhile. Nothing is super-duper exciting, it's just normal. You want your dog to develop a "been there, done that" attitude toward just about everything. It's that kind of dog you can take just about anywhere with you.
Another idea: take a nice comfy chair, some treats, that handy-dandy dog mat and sit near your local big-box store (WalMart, Home Depot, grocery store, etc.). You're bound to get lots and lots of attention! Hand the dog treats to the people, tell them to bend down (not lean over), offer the treat to your pup, and scratch him on his chest (not on his head - most pups don't like that). Lather, rinse, repeat!
Whatever you do, DO NOT force your pup to meet someone he doesn't want to meet. This is for the dog, go at his pace. Be ready to tell people exactly how to greet, and when to back away. If your dog looks stressed (ears hanging, tail very low, trembling, excessive panting, or clinging to you), just take your pup home. Remember, this should be fun for your pup, not stressful!
