One would expect an animal as social as a dog would come into a household in a perfectly social way. But a well-mannered dog is created, not born, and the creation of those good manners requires affection, patience, and long-term commitment on both your part and your dog's.

Bringing up a puppy or newly adopted older dog isn't so different from raising a human child. Just as a child must be encouraged to share his toys, eat with a fork, or allow grownups to finish their conversations uninterrupted, your dog will need to learn that it's impolite, or worse, to growl at you for touching her favorite bone, to beg at the dinner table or to jump up on your guests. She won't know, unless you teach her, that loud barking can be offensive or that doing her business in the house is inappropriate. It's up to you, her owner and friend, to also become her master and to teach her the skills that will ultimately save both of you from great frustration.

Where do you begin? At the beginning, of course, when your dog is a wide-eyed pup eager to learn everything you can teach her. That's the perfect time to expose her fertile mind to the social behaviors you'll expect of her by the time she reaches maturity.

Puppy and Basic Canine Education Classes are available at PETCO. All new puppies should attend a Canine Education Class to learn the good behaviors and healthy habits that last a lifetime. Early learning is critical to the development and socialization of your new pet. Ask one of PETCO's experienced Canine Education Instructors for more information.

First Steps

When you first bring your puppy home, you'll need to give her time to get used to her new surroundings. Your puppy may have a host of new roommates to get used to. So, don't expect too much from her in the first few days.

Do, however, spend plenty of time getting to know her and giving her the opportunity to get to know you and your family. Polite interaction with her new "pack" is the first step on her road to social acceptance. You'll need to guide her steps, and you'll need to be consistent about establishing ground rules. Remember the three P's of puppy training: praise, patience and perseverance.

She'll set about testing the waters immediately as she tries to find her way. At first, you may think it's adorable that your puppy is displaying her naturally territorial instincts. It isn't uncommon for your puppy to want to stake her claim to you, a piece of furniture, a toy or even her food and water bowl. She may growl as you go to take a ball or stuffed toy from her, and she may wrestle with you over her food dish. You might laugh or even praise her for it. But as she grows, such behavior can lead to bite marks and worse. A full-grown dog baring her teeth when you come near her is no laughing matter. You must teach your puppy that you are firmly in control by "allowing" her to have the toy or food straight from your hand. It is your concession to her, not the other way around! If she growls over her food, try feeding her the entire meal by hand until she realizes you are in charge. Then, put bits of food into her bowl one at a time until she finishes them. She'll learn quickly that you control mealtime, playtime and every other occasion in her life. Both of your lives will be happier for the lesson.

Just as children teethe, puppies chew. That's another of the gentle pleasures you will face as you and your puppy settle in together. But while it is perfectly normal puppy behavior, this is nevertheless annoying and sometimes downright painful. Whether the object of her teething is your hand or one of your most cherished possessions, you must firmly tell her "No!" as soon as you see or feel her start chewing. Give her a chew toy instead. As she chews the toy, praise her lavishly and make a mental note that redirection is always a positive training option.

Of course, mastering the biting habit is only one step in an overall training campaign. You will also need to keep your puppy from jumping on you and on the furniture. Like every other aspect of puppy training, this can be accomplished best through consistency and incorporation into your daily life. Letting your pup up on the couch one day but admonishing her to get down the next will only result in confusion and frustration for you as well as her. For best results, give her a bed of her own and each time she jumps up on you or the couch, coax her to her own bed instead. Make sure the bed is within your view and hearing so she doesn't feel banished. And, start working on teaching her the "sit" and "stay" commands as soon as possible.

Begging at the dinner table is another activity you should forbid. It seems to be innate to every dog. One of the first things you'll notice about your puppy is that every time you sit down to a meal, she will manage to communicate the idea that she hasn't been fed in a month and that starvation is surely imminent. Don't give in! And, don't be tempted to provide treats in her own bowl or do anything special at mealtime. So long as your pup feels she has anything to gain by begging, she will continue to beg. The only cure is to tell her "no" firmly. Then ignore her. Continue your meal and praise and play with her when you are done. Do this consistently, and you will have a well-mannered dog. Fail once, and the battle will last longer.

Once you're feeling confident in your puppy's at-home social behavior, it's time to introduce her outside your immediate family circle. Experts recommend your puppy be between seven and 12 weeks old when first introduced to outsiders. At this stage, she'll have the mental capacity to understand your commands if you should admonish her for jumping up and soiling your boss's new, and inevitably light-colored, business suit. Before you invite your boss to dinner, however, it might be a good idea to practice first with a friend or neighbor who understands that you're just starting to socialize your puppy.

From interacting with your family, your puppy should already know that jumping up on people is definitely wrong. You may have to remind her when she meets her first stranger. Do this by giving the "sit" command and gently pushing her into the sit position until she does comply. Be sure both you and your friend then give her plenty of praise, telling her what a good and well-mannered girl she is. You can then continue your own conversation, ignoring her while she sniffs and inspects and generally becomes acquainted with the newcomer.

Dogs rely on a keen sense of smell and will naturally want to investigate any new person. After a moment, take your friend to the couch or living area. If your puppy follows you over, give her the sit command so she knows her place is at your feet or in her bed. Repeat this exercise with different friends until your puppy fully understands how to meet and greet new people while observing proper etiquette.

Your next step is the doorbell test. If you have encountered this before, your puppy will likely have greeted this occurrence with a volley of excited barks. It is now time to teach her some guidelines.

Have a friend ring the front doorbell or knock on the door. When your puppy barks, it is her signal that she is feeling at home in your house. It is her "den" and she wants to protect it. Once you open the door, however, you'll want her to stop her barking and politely greet your visitor. To do this, say "quiet" and allow her to calm down before opening the door. If she continues to bark, you may need to take more drastic action. Dog experts recommend startling the dog with a loud noise in order to get her to be quiet. Rattle a key chain or bang on a pot with a spoon. When you get her attention, say "quiet" again. This should do the trick.

By now, your puppy is probably feeling pretty good about herself. She knows how to meet and greet strangers politely, and she's pleasing you on a regular basis. Now is the time to introduce her to her doggie counterparts.

Peer Encounters

Dog-meets-dog introductions are a whole different ball game because your puppy may feel jealous or threatened by the presence of another territorial animal. Start the introduction slowly and on neutral ground by having a friend and fellow dog owner meet you at the park or on the sidewalk. Let the dogs sniff and get to know each other and be sure to watch the meeting closely to make sure neither animal gets too aggressive or unpleasant. If you hear growling or see any other signs of trouble including teeth bared, ears back or tail down, separate the dogs immediately. When both dogs have calmed down, try introducing them again. Soon, your puppy will realize that other dogs are not a threat to her and that she can make friends and even have a good time romping and playing while you humans chat. Once meeting other dogs becomes routine to your puppy, she'll make you very proud with her demeanor.

With Infants

Whether your puppy is still a pup or a socially confident adult, and no matter how long you have shared a household, introducing a new baby into the mixture can be tricky business. Somehow, a baby doesn't seem to rate in the social order of things, and a dog might be forgiven for not understanding that she is lower on the totem pole than the squalling infant. The key to preventing any "I was here first" tantrums and other general misbehavior is to start introducing your dog to the baby even when the baby is not around. This works before the baby is born as well! Following are some tried-and-true tips for making proper preparations.

Without the Baby

To get your dog ready for your new baby's arrival, tape record baby sounds, including crying and cooing, then play the tape regularly in your dog's presence. Introduce your dog to the nursery and let her explore the area, then practice having her "sit" and "lie down" in the room. You may also want to take your dog for a walk with a stroller so that she's used to it without your having the baby to attend to. And, when you first bring your baby home, wrap the newborn in a blanket, then give the blanket to your dog so she can get used to the baby's scent.

With the Baby

Introduce the baby to your dog as soon as you feel comfortable with the situation. Do this by sitting down and holding the baby securely, but close enough for the dog to see and smell. Allow your dog into the nursery when you're there to supervise. Make sure she follows all "sit" and "stay" commands in the room as you attend to the baby. Never leave your dog and the baby unsupervised, no matter how much you trust your dog. A baby can be a stressful thing for your dog, so be patient as she gets used to the new smells and sounds. She should feel perfectly at ease with the infant within two to four weeks. If your pup is still pouting after then, consult your veterinarian or a professional trainer.

Puppies and Children

Even a dog that is well behaved around adults and babies can have a real challenge getting to know children. That's because kids are known to run, jump, yell and generally upstage dogs. Most dogs prefer to have center stage entirely to themselves. Children need to be taught how to act politely around your puppy or adopted older dog, just as the puppy needs to learn how to socialize with the children.

To help encourage your dog and children to get along, don't allow your child to tease the dog physically or verbally, and don't let a small child pick up or carry a puppy because children don't have the strength to do it properly. Don't allow your child to play with the dog without adult supervision. Insist other children follow the same rules when playing with your dog, and involve your child in the training and care of the dog. Teach the child to give commands like "sit" or "down," to assist with feeding and to help let the dog out.

Starting properly is the key to puppy socialization. If you take your time to set your puppy off on the right paw, you'll be rewarded with a dog that is obedient, loyal and loving. In other words, the perfect pet you have always wanted.