Anyone who has ever been owned by a dog (yes, you heard that right!) knows that there is nothing quite as lovable and comfortable as a dog who has been by your side since puppyhood. You get to raise them up the way you want them to be, just like your kids, and just like your kids, you expect them to mature into responsible adults, albeit canine adults.

However, along the way you will notice that your puppy goes through stages so if you’ve never raised a puppy to maturity, you may be concerned that you are doing it all wrong. Unless you totally neglect your puppy, there really isn’t much you can do ‘wrong’; you just could maybe be doing it better. Love is the key and if you have that, the rest can be learned.

Don’t Expect All Puppies to Keep Their Puppy Fur

One of the most frustrating aspects of getting a small puppy is expecting them to be as soft as they are now when they mature. If you have raised a short-haired breed, you know that your dog’s hair is much more brittle than it was when they were a puppy – most of the time, that is. There are a few short-haired breeds that remain soft into adulthood, but it is much more common for long haired dogs to remain soft.

So then, you can still ask why puppies are so soft, but the answer is really quite simple. As their hair grows, it will go through physical changes, just as your puppy will fill out and change form. That lovable ball of laughs may grow tall and lean where once it was round and fluffy. If you want a dog that is soft in adulthood, research the breed! That is the best advice we can give you.

Socialization Skills Vary with Age

Another thing which baffles many new dog owners is how their little lovable puppy who took to literally every stranger becomes a virtual beast in adulthood. That’s because mom and dad didn’t socialize their puppy right in many instances. From the time your puppy is old enough to walk unassisted and after getting its shots, of course, you need to start taking your puppy out to meet as many people as possible. Daily would even be best. Having said that, if you are getting a puppy that you also want to be a guard dog for your home and family, over-socializing him could be a big mistake.

A puppy raised to accept everyone isn’t going to be much good as a guard dog. They will offer intruders everything they can carry away! Again, there are exceptions to the norm in that dogs can sense by smell and sight if someone means their humans harm and will most often act accordingly. Unfortunately, you don’t want to take that chance, so learn to socialize your puppy in the way you want them to respond to strangers as mature dogs. Don’t you do this with your own children? Well, a puppy is your family too!

Puppies will grow and change personality traits with age. Learn about the stages of puppy development and you will know how to live with your new best friend comfortably as they go through the various stages of development.