ACD Puppy Socialization

Paws To Peaks
May 31
6 min read

Updated: Jun 17

Many dog owners hear about socialization but aren’t really sure what it means. Instead of clear guidance, they often find vague or complicated advice—and give up. We felt the same at first. But we gathered what made sense, started step by step, and now, just under 15 months later, we clearly see the results.

Socialization helps—but it doesn’t work the same way for every dog. A lot depends on their nature, instincts, and how they connect with us. Mrok is an Australian Cattle Dog - more like a 4x4 than a city scooter. See what we’ve achieved together, and why it’s worth starting, no matter who your dog is.

Before little Mrok came to live with us, we started preparing in theory. We read everything we could find, watched many videos and podcasts, and even got in touch with ACD breeders in Australia.

We tried to gather as much information as possible about the potential challenges of living with an Australian Cattle Dog who, instead of working on a ranch with cattle, would be living in an apartment with three cats.

Introducing Mrok to his new home went surprisingly smoothly. He quickly got used to the space and observed the cats with great curiosity, a curiosity that was mutual.

We knew Mrok needed to see as many new places, people, and animals as possible. He had to hear a variety of sounds and get used to different noise levels.

This part of socialization is described in many different ways by dog trainers and behaviorists. We relied on their expertise and, among other things, created our own plan based on that knowledge.

Socialization means building the foundations of a dog’s competence in various situations

Our plan was based on what is known as the "socialization window", a period when a puppy is extremely curious about the world, eager to explore, and open to various stimuli, including different human behaviors and animal encounters.

Little ACD Mrok socializing in the park

What is critical is time. A young puppy won’t stay small for long, there's about a month to make first contacts that, if neglected, can cause problems later in life. We got organized. Here is what Mrok experienced during the first six weeks:

New Places Every Day:

Forest
Meadow
Stairwell
Elevator
Small store
Large supermarket
Train station
Metro station
Bus stop
Airport
Farm with animals
Underground parking garage
Busy street
City center
Large crowds
Teenagers yelling on a playground
Café
Library
Beach
River
Lake
Sea
ACD in a garden center
Means of Transport:
Mostly car—his main form of transport
Bike trailer
Bus
Train
Metro
Kayak
ACD kayaking on a lake
Encounters:
As many dogs as possible (puppies and adults, various sizes and temperaments)
Other animals (as much as possible for city dwellers): horses, cows, goats, sheep
Lots of people: women, men, children, dressed differently, behaving differently. We always made sure Mrok could approach and sniff but didn’t allow everyone to pick him up or pet him.
Young ACD exploring the forest
Movement: A Key Element
Encounters with fast walkers and runners
Cyclists and rollerbladers
Frequent walks near roads with moving cars
Visits to train stations and tram loops This is essential for herding breeds. A dog like this will instinctively chase anything moving fast or erratically. He doesn’t know a car can kill him. He might chase it. The same goes for joggers or playing kids.
Young ACD - Mrok explores different surfaces and learns to balance while walking on fallen trees

We treated each socialization outing as a fun adventure. We always paid close attention to Mrok to know when he’d had enough.

Never force a dog to meet something new faster than he's comfortable with. We made a mistake once, trying to combine a metro visit with an escalator lesson. Definitely do it in stages - with fun and play.

Mrok discovers the salty waters of the Atlantic

What does socialization at a place like a train station mean?

We slowly lead Mrok on a leash to the station. We let him look around, sniff, and touch anything that catches his interest. We stay close but don’t interfere with how he explores. We don’t talk to him or pet him. We don’t want to create unnecessary dependencies. We let him watch people, hear announcements about arriving trains, and get used to the typical loudspeaker sounds. We walk him to the platform and wait for a train to arrive. We choose a spot where Mrok can observe everything without being startled by sudden movement or noise, but we don’t shield him from it. Mrok sees, hears, and smells a brand-new part of the world, while knowing we’re right beside him. He feels safe. The whole thing takes no longer than 15–20 minutes. That’s a lot for a puppy. We’re always ready to quietly end the session and head home.

We treat every new place this same way.

For a little ACD, a curb is a serious challenge—one he approaches with great curiosity.

Today Mrok is 18 months old - a young, energetic ACD male. He’s not neutered and still learning.

What did we gain through this?

Mrok doesn’t chase people, bikes, or cars.
He behaves calmly in busy places.
He rides public transport and loves car and trailer travel.
He connects easily with people and animals.
He is not fearful or aggressive.
He enjoys cooperation and continues to meet new dogs.
Not yet 4 months old, Mrok on a trip in his bike trailer

Important! Socialization is not something you finish. The puppy phase is key, but the process should continue throughout the dog’s life. Early efforts are the most effective. If you wait too long, it’s still possible, just harder.

A confident dog who trusts you is the dream. With consistent work, it’s absolutely achievable.

Mrok eagerly explores new things — like crossing a river on stepping stones

What did we miss?

Simulated grooming: handling paws with tools
Playing with different brushes
More practice with mouth and teeth cleaning

Little Mrok explores an electric nail file

What would we do differently?

Trust our instincts sooner and go straight to one-on-one sessions with a behaviorist/trainer

What wouldn’t we do again?

Wait for full post-vaccine immunity before starting dog meetings and socialization (This is our personal view - always consult your vet.)
Go to a so-called Puppy School. We feel it gives a false sense of action. Puppy school isn’t enough. Time is better spent meeting dogs and working with a good trainer.
Snow — like any other new surface — is an important part of the socialization process

Are we still socializing Mrok? Absolutely. He’s still learning to communicate maturely with other dogs, sometimes overreacting. That’s why we work with his trainers, Agnieszka and Kuba. We don’t avoid social situations. We also keep learning to better understand what dogs are saying to us and each other.

Mrok’s encounters with other dogs are the key to his socialization - In the photo with much older Hektor

Despite our efforts, we still notice things we've missed in the socialization process. At first, we were quite concerned about it but now, with Mrok being 18 months old, we’ve come to realize there’s really no need to worry. Many things can still be introduced now, calmly and without pressure.

Socialization continues - today it’s about sharing the world, not just learning it

Of course, it's important to let a puppy experience as much as possible early on - but without overwhelming them. And if you don’t manage to cover everything during the “socialization window,” that’s okay too. What really matters is staying consistent and learning how to live together, day by day.

We didn’t mention, for example, that we fed Mrok in various ways - using a bowl, directly from the floor, from a snuffle mat, or from our hands. We did the same with water. Our activities sometimes require a more specific approach, and Mrok seemed to understand that - for instance, when he had to drink water from a cupped hand while it poured from a bottle, or straight from a tap.

Socialization in action—no lectures, just a solid meal

In general, all the socialization advice we read suggested one main idea: show your puppy as much of the world as possible, in as many ways as possible. But we also tried to watch how our little guy reacted - making sure each new place or situation was more like a fun adventure than dragging him around just to check off another box on a never-ending list. After all, our dog is an Australian Cattle Dog, and what works for him may not work for every pup - long mountain hikes with a Chihuahua might not be their idea of fun.

Sometimes 'too much' starts with good intentions

Living with an ACD means mutual socialization. You must become a little like a dog if you want your dog to be a little like a person. Even if we don’t say it aloud - that’s exactly what we want. A good life with a dog is a journey of interesting compromises and the rewards can be amazing.

Mrok in a small, narrow mountain cable car

This article is dedicated to the couple we met when Mrok was still small. When I got nervous and asked them not to let their dog approach him, they simply said: "Of course, we understand. All the best!"

Now that I know more, I want to thank them.