To summarize, there are many positive ways in which to broaden your puppy's or older dog's horizons to help him become a more confident and secure member of society. There are also some things you shouldn't do, because forcing your dog may backfire and cause him to be even less secure in the face of certain distractions. Keep these things in mind:

Some Socialization Dos

• Wear different kinds of clothing around the house and interact positively with your dog. For example, wear floppy hats, baggy pants, perfumed scarves, gloves, sunglasses, high heels that clatter, and so on. When you're wearing these things, approach your dog normally and reassure him by speaking in your regular voice.

• Let your puppy or dog explore strange things in your house — shiny pots and pans, the vacuum cleaner, buckets, crinkly grocery bags. Supervise him to make sure he doesn't ingest anything inappropriate, and move the object around once he's sniffed it.

• Make it a point to take your dog to different places at least once a week for a long walk, preferably public places like parks, small towns, or even pet-friendly stores or the vet's office.

• Include touching him all over as part of his socialization. Remember that strangers like to pet dogs, so yours should be accustomed to being reached for and touched. Be sure to pick up his feet, look under his tail, tug gently (gently!) on his ears, hold his muzzle between your hands, tickle his tummy, and so on. Do this in a gentle, loving way and make it fun and positive.

• Be sure to visit areas where your puppy or dog will encounter children. Take him to an area school when the kids are getting out of class. To get them even more interested in saying hello, put a bright-colored bandana or bow on your dog's collar.

Some Socialization Don'ts

• If your puppy or dog appears overly frightened or unsure, don't coddle or comfort her. If you do, you're rewarding the fearful response. Instead, without showing emotion, remove her from the situation or take away the object that's frightening her and make a note to yourself that you will need to work on building her confidence around that experience or object.

• Don't expose your pup or dog to dogs that may be untrustworthy. If there are too many strange dogs in the dog park, don't let her run around with them yet. If a strange dog is pulling her owner down the street to try to get to your puppy, chances are his over-exuberance could frighten yours. Greet her some other time.

• Don't allow your dog to go somewhere that looks dirty or has been used by other strange animals if she hasn't had all her shots. The last thing you want is for her to contract a disease.

• Socialize regularly, but don't overdo it. Puppies especially need lots of sleep and downtime. More frequent but shorter adventures are better than ones that overstimulate her.

• Don't force a situation. If she's truly afraid of the vacuum, don't think that confining her in the room while you work around her is a good way for her to get used to it. Where there are strong reactions, go slowly. Get her used to being around the vacuum when it's off, then gradually work up to turning it on when she's around.