Socialising a puppy – Atlas’ story

When Atlas was dropped off at nine weeks old, we got started straight away. His early days were carefully planned to gently introduce him to the world in a way that built confidence, curiosity, and calmness, with no overwhelm or pressure. I took two weeks annual leave, and then ensured I was working from home to enable us to make full use of his socialisation window.

Getting Out Straight Away

The day after he arrived, Atlas was out in the countryside with us. He spent most of the time tucked safely in his travel bag, but we gave him little moments on the ground to explore, sniff, and play in the heather in a quiet spot.
From then on, he came out twice a day with the adult dogs on their walks. Again, mostly carried, but always with short opportunities to feel the ground under his feet. Being around the older dogs also helped him learn calm walking habits from the start.

My adult rescue lurcher is reactive, so I was careful to only take them out together when the environment would ensure everyone felt safe and Atlas wouldn’t be exposed to Tommy’s reactivity. This paid off and Atlas is bomb proof and completely oblivious to occasional Tommy’s melt downs.

Everyday Life, Bit by Bit

Atlas joined me in town regularly for short visits to dog-friendly shops, cafés, garden centres, and pubs. He saw traffic, and experienced common urban sounds like delivery vans, clattering trolleys, automatic doors, and the general noise of people going about their day.

We did plenty of low-key people-watching from benches and supermarket car parks – either from the boot of the car or on my lap. It’s easy to overlook that kind of exposure, but it really helps build calm observation skills without the pressure to interact.

He also got used to being out in the dark, which can often get missed. Daily early morning ensured noises and shadows never became a problem.

Meeting People and Other Dogs

Early on, Atlas met the children next door and my nieces and was around a steady stream of sensible visitors – both people and dogs. It was all very normalised, with no fuss made, which helped him stay relaxed about guests.

He also went to a well-run puppy social group where a small number of matched pups could play and explore novel objects together – things like wobble boards, tunnels, and different textures underfoot.

We did puppy classes too – small groups with a focus on learning through play, short training bursts, and settling on a blanket between activities. It helped lay solid foundations and taught him how to focus, then switch off again.

Regular Car Trips and New Locations

Seasonal Events and Surprises

He arrived just before Bonfire Night and took fireworks completely in his stride. There was no build-up or tension around it – we just kept everything calm, and he fed off that.

Over Christmas, he came with me to garden centres full of decorations and lights. He didn’t bat an eyelid at singing reindeer, reflective surfaces, or chaotic tinsel aisles.

Parkrun and Passive Exposure

Atlas joined me for Parkrun marshalling every week. He started in his bag, then progressed to his pushchair, and later settled on a raised bed (HiK9). It was a great way to expose him to movement, noise, and crowds without asking too much of him. He learned to be calm in the middle of activity, which is a really helpful skill for a Whippet. He now sits in his folding chair quietly judging everyone!

Learning to Be Left

(Steps to avoid separation anxiety and building self-confidence)

He was left with other people very early on, not just in the house, but for walks, short stays, and dog-sitting. As a result, he’s totally at ease being handed over to someone else. There’s no drama, no clinginess – he assumes it’ll be fine, because so far, it always has been.

Atlas was left at home for short periods of just a few minutes very early on. I would ensure he had all his needs met and was calm and relaxed before nipping out and watching him on the camera. It was also important that he learned how to be left alone without my other dogs, which we also built up gradually. All of my dogs know when they are or aren’t coming with me, and when it is the latter, they take themselves to their beds and await a biscuit.

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t about doing something extraordinary, just about doing lots of ordinary things, consistently and calmly. Atlas wasn’t overwhelmed or pushed into things, and I never tried to tick every box in one go. Instead, we built it up over time, with short, manageable experiences that became part of everyday life. It’s important to remember that they process these experiences when they are sleeping, and the need for restful, restorative sleep must never be underestimated.

As touched on earlier, if you have an existing dog with behavioural challenges, it is important to put preventative measures in place to ensure that those behaviours and habits don’t transfer to your puppy.

Whippets can be sensitive, but they’re also incredibly adaptable when you give them the right start. Early exposure, done well, gives them the toolkit they need to feel safe in the world, and that shows in everything they do later on.