A young puppy has so much potential and starting off from scratch means you have the opportunity to make impressions on her that will last for the rest of her life. Your dog's early experiences will shape her personality, how she sees the world around her and how she deals with stress. A well thought out socialization plan can help you raise a dog that you can take anywhere with anyone with a happy wag of her tail. Poor socialization can leave you with a fearful, reactive dog that can't cope with being outside of her home environment. Give your puppy the best possible start by making sure she has early, safe and POSITIVE experiences with a variety of people, places, surfaces, sounds and temperatures.
Never force your pup to approach anyone or anything, let her explore on her terms, quietly praising and encouraging her when she boldly approaches by herself. NEVER coddle your pup, if your puppy shows signs of fear or nervousness, the worst thing you can do is console her which she'll take as praise for her undesirable behavior. When your puppy seems uncertain take her away from the thing that is causing her stress until you have a happy puppy again. Then encourage her to approach at her own rate again, such as having a 'scary' person kneel down to the side and not look at the puppy while holding out a treat for her. Maybe if she's uncertain about water get in the water yourself and play with a toy, making it seem like great fun, when she joins you, even a little, play with her and tell her how brave she is!
Keep in mind you're not trying to overwhelm your puppy with new experiences - quantity is not better than quality! Make sure your puppy is confident, well rested and having a good time whenever you introduce her to something new. Don't overdo it either! Puppies get tired very quickly, and most importantly give your dog lots of downtime after a new experience to recuperate and reflect on what she's been exposed to in a safe, quiet place.
SOCIALIZATION CHECKLIST
PEOPLE
 Children under 5
 Children 5-10
 Children 10-15
 Children 15-20
 Tall
 Large
 Short
 Coats (bulky or long)
 Masks
 Black
 Hispanic
 Oriental
 Old
 Mentally Handicapped
 Hats
 Umbrellas
 Packages
 Running
 Bicycling
 Skateboarding
 Screaming
 Wrestling
 Shouting
 Singing
 Crowds
 Sidewalks
 Wheelchairs
 Walkers
 Shopping Carts
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SITUATIONS
 Restraint
 Grabbing
 Holding Tail
 Holding/Inspecting Ears
 Hugging
 Holding Paws and Nails
 Looming Over
 Patting Head
 Grabbing Collar
 Nail Trims
 Brushing
 Turning on Side
 Looking at Teeth
 Temperature Taking
 Picture Taking
 Flash
 Picking Up
 Stretching
 Massaging
 On Lap
 On Back
 Dark
 Windy
 Raining
 Bathtubs
 In Car
 In Truck
 Restrained in car
 Elevators
 Automatic Doors
 Riding in Shopping Carts/wheelbarrows
 On Tables/High Surfaces
 People Throwing Things
 Low agility equipment
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SURFACES
 Grass
 Concrete
 Bark
 Metal
 Grate
 Wood
 Uneven
 Plastic Hard
 Plastic sheet
 Loud
 Soft
 Sand
 Wet
 Slippery
 Warm
 Cold
 Ladder
 Shallow water
 Deep water
 Inclines
 Slides
 Tippy Board
 Stairs
 Tile
 Mud
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SOUNDS
 Loud Constant
 Loud Variable
 Mechanical Loud
 Natural Loud
 Hairdryers
 Coffee grinders
 Dremel tool
 Vacuums
 Showers
 Traffic
 Honking
 Waterfall
 Shopping Carts
 Hammering
 Construction Vehicles
 Screaming/Laughing Children
 Barking Dogs
 Cheering/Applauding People
 Loud Music
 Beeping
 Babies
 Dropping Pans
 Lawn Mowers
 Garage Door
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PLACES
 Agility/Obedience/
Flyball Trial
 Home Depot
 Petsmart/Petco
 Grocery Store
 Downtown
 College
 Playground
 School
 Retirement Center
 Grooming Facility
 Dog Park
 Doggie Daycare
 Puppy Kindergarten
 Hiking
 Field
 Beach
 Shopping Centers
 Big City
 Neighbors' Houses
 Friends' Houses
 Hotel
 Flea Market
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ANIMALS
 Big Dogs
 Small Dogs
 Hairy Dogs
 White Dogs
 Black Dogs
 Cropped/Docked Dogs
 Wrestling Dogs
 Chasing Dogs
 Cranky Dogs
 Friendly Dogs
 Playful Dogs
 Serious Dogs
 Friendly Cats
 Unfriendly Cats
 Birds
 Rodents
 Ferrets
 Rats
 Lizards
 Rabbits
 Horses
 Livestock
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TOYS
 Tennis Balls
 Rubber Balls
 Boomer Ball
 Bumper
 Fleece Tug
 Moo Tug
 Fleece Toys
 Stuffed Toys
 Food Stuffed Toys
 Kongs
 Marrow Bones
 Treat Cube
 Treat Ball
 Nylabones
 Frisbee - hard
 Frisbee - soft
 Rope Toys
 Fishing Pole Toys
 Riot Stick
 Cardboard Box
 2 Liter Bottles
 Flashing Ball
 Leash
 Squeak Toy
 Giggle Toy
 Mouse Toy
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EATEN FROM
 Metal Bowl
 Plastic Bowl
 Kong
 Marrow Bone
 Treat Cube/Ball
 Paper Plate
 Plate
 Glass
 Grass
 Dirt
 Concrete
 Wood
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