My dog is very ferocious and fearful of little things, going after people and us too and we need to give him a time out. He is just eight months old. Please help.

‘Socialisation’ is the term describing the process by which a dog learns to relate to people, other dogs and his environment. You are basically aiming at preparing your puppy for all eventualities, so that whenever he encounters anyone or anything new, he will greet it with inquisitiveness rather than fear or aggression. Expose your puppy to all sights and sounds gradually and allow him to explore and learn for himself. It is essential that your dog is fully comfortable to be with people and other pets so introduce him to all sorts of different people and pets. When taking your puppy for a walk, take some tasty snacks to rewarding him. One way of getting good socialisation with other dogs and puppies is by attending so-called ‘puppy parties’ at your locality or your local dog training group, where your puppy can meet other dogs (and other people) in a friendly and structured environment. Lastly, through training, your dog will learn to understand what his human companions expect of him and be better equipped to fit into his environment

Question by – Pritisha, Jorhat