Both dogs and cats are very social animals. Most cats, anyway It’s important when bringing a new dog or cat into your home to socialize them. The sooner they become comfortable with their new family, the happier and healthier they will be.

Another important factor to consider in socializing your pet is that the more comfortable they are with their new “people” family, the less uncomfortable they will be when visiting the vet for routine check-ups and vaccinations.

Dogs
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommends the following:

• puppy socialization should begin before completion of puppy vaccination series and should become the standard of care
• All puppies should be handled from birth and should learn to accept manipulation of all body parts
• Puppies should be exposed to as many new people, new situations, places and other well-socialized animals as possible

(A full listing of these guidelines can be found in this Examiner.com article)

In addition to socializing dogs to home environments, many people are also taking part in “Dog Socials”.

“The Dog Social is all about having fun, socializing for both animals and owners, spending time with their companion dog and bonding with their pet,” said Eva Morales, owner of It’s a Pet Thang.

Register-Herald article on “Dog Socials”

Cats
As anyone with a cat in the family will tell you, cats are complex creatures.

“Cats can inherit their shyness or outgoing nature from their fathers while dogs’ personalities usually depend on their breed.”
-Dr. Sarah Correll of Happy Pet Therapy in Boise, Idaho

The early stages of kitten hood are critical for coaxing cats into being social creatures, says Correll. Around 3 to 12 weeks old, they should be handled for about 40 minutes a day to help them relax.

Read more here: Socializing Cats and Dogs

Also of interest: How to Socialize Feral Kittens