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Getting your puppy used to people

Men with hats, loud children, unfamiliar faces: your puppy should get to know lots of people from their best side. Here's how, without overwhelming him.

For your puppy to be relaxed around people later on, he should meet plenty of different ones now: women and men, children, people with hats, glasses, walking sticks or walkers. What he experiences as normal as a puppy won't scare him as an adult dog.

Lots of good encounters

Aim for varied but calm encounters. Men with deep voices and lively children in particular are unfamiliar to many puppies, so they should be part of the mix early on. What matters is that every encounter feels good. Because a single bad experience can do more damage than ten good ones can make up for.

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Frequently asked questions

What is “Getting your puppy used to people” about?

Men with hats, loud children, unfamiliar faces: your puppy should get to know lots of people from their best side. Here's how, without overwhelming him. For your puppy to be relaxed around people later on, he should meet plenty of different ones now: women and men, children, people with hats, glasses, walking sticks or walkers. What he experiences as normal as a puppy won't scare him as an adult dog.

What else is part of “Getting your puppy used to people”?

Aim for varied but calm encounters. Men with deep voices and lively children in particular are unfamiliar to many puppies, so they should be part of the mix early on. What matters is that every encounter feels good. Because a single bad experience can do more damage than ten good ones can make up for.

Does the article “Getting your puppy used to people” replace veterinary advice?

This article is no substitute for veterinary advice. Source: DOGSY editorial team.

Who wrote “Getting your puppy used to people”, and how up to date is the article?

The article comes from the DOGSY knowledge team and is written in plain language. Last updated: 9 July 2026.

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This article is no substitute for veterinary advice. Source: DOGSY editorial team.