Socialise your pup from its first weeks with you

"When dogs attack" from the ABC offers some advice to new puppy owners. The program says: "... between 3 and 14 weeks of age (is) the ideal puppy socialisation period - it's a window of opportunity for us to expose puppies to lots of different situations, different dogs and people."

Early socialization lessens the risk that the puppy (or older dog) will become aggressive, because most dogs' aggression is based on fear. When the dog is frightened, it reacts instinctively, and this can lead to fights and to bites.

As soon as your puppy is vaccinated, take him out with you to get him used to new environments, other dogs, and people.