What does properly socialized mean when it comes to a Cardigan puppy? It’s a buzzword that gets used a lot, but as a buyer you need to be sure that your breeder isn’t just promising that “all puppies are raised in the house” but is using a focused and deliberate program of exposing their puppies to a wide variety of people, sounds, textures, and environments. The first eight weeks of a puppy’s life are critically important to building a confident, resilient adult dog, and you need to make sure that you’re setting yourself up for the best possible experience as an owner. By the time our babies reach eight weeks, they have met at least fifty people, been exposed to multiple species, been herding tested on ducks or geese, and been assessed for temperament and talent by professional trainers.