There is a limited window of time in puppyhood during which a puppy must be exposed to various people, animals, places, and objects to grow up with a healthy, adaptable social outlook. Dr Ian Dunbar, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist, suggests that during the first 12 weeks of your puppy’s life, you introduce him to at least 100 people.
The experiences a puppy has during the first 12 weeks of his life will have a profound and unchangeable impact on his life. This period is called the critical socialization period. His experiences, or lack thereof, during this period, cannot be changed later in life.
Social interaction with other dogs and people should be ongoing throughout a dog’s life to maintain normal social behavior. But the first 12 to 14 weeks of the puppy’s life are far more critical than any other time. It is very predictable that without effective socialization. During the first 12 weeks, a dog’s social outlook and well-being are compromised no matter how much positive social exposure we give the dogs during adolescence or adulthood. In other words, if you don’t socialize with your puppy during the first 12 weeks, you will likely have behavioral problems for the rest of the dog’s life.
A well-socialized puppy is usually seen as a great family pet that you can trust to go anywhere with you.
For example, a good, socialized puppy is
· Capable of handling normal stress in her environment
· Can demonstrate self-control
· Can demonstrate self-calming capabilities
· Can communicate effectively with other dogs
We all have heard of at least one dog that is fearful, aggressive or barks at cars, other dogs and people during its daily walk. It is likely this dog was not properly socialized as a puppy.
Poor socialization can lead to
· Inability to greet play or communicate with other dogs normally
· Inability to form satisfying relationships with other dogs
· Extreme shyness or fear in what should be considered normal and common social situations
· Aggressive behavior
· Inability to cope or be relaxed in the face of mild stress
· Shows hyperactive behavior
· Cannot self-calm
· And the inability to problem-solve
Weeks six through 12 are critical. Your puppy should be exposed to
· Other dogs
· People of all ages and types, including children
· Objects of all shapes and sizes and new environments will likely
· Other animals
One of the most impressionable periods for puppies falls in week 9. Remember that most owners do not have puppies until they are eight weeks old. This means new dog owners have minimal opportunity to socialize with a puppy and must get serious about this task immediately. No other factors will influence your dog’s life more than early socialization. A well-socialized dog will be easier to raise and train in every way, whereas a poorly socialized dog will likely present many complex problems to solve.
If a puppy is not socialized properly, it could take months or years instead of days or weeks. All animals have critical socialization periods hardwired into their genetic codes. We cannot change how this biological process works, so we must take advantage of it by over-socializing during this critical period. You cannot overdo great socialization. It’s like making a brilliant investment in the future of the puppy.
A mistake I made early in my life was to believe that socializing with another dog or two at home is the only socialization a new puppy in a family would need. If the dogs at home are well-mannered, this is a benefit. But your pup should meet other dogs outside the home to help the pup learn how to interact with dogs of different shapes, sizes, and personalities in real-life public situations. This is no different than it would be for a child. You wouldn’t want your child to stay home during his developmental years, speaking and playing with only his brothers and sisters and no one else. This would make it hard for him to relate well to the rest of the world when he grows up and interacts with the public. It’s the same with dogs. Unless you expect to have a dog, you quarantine it away from the public, and you need to get him out to interact with others.
Enrolling in puppy classes before three months of age can be an excellent means of improving training, strengthening the human-animal bond, and socializing puppies in an environment where the risk of illness can be minimized. Puppy socialization classes start as early as seven to eight weeks of age. Your puppy should receive a minimum of one set of vaccines at least seven days prior to the first class and their first deworming.
I would like to cover one last area. Time must be scheduled for puppies to play alone with their favorite toys. Puppies should also take naps in safe places such as crates or puppy pens. This teaches puppies to amuse themselves and helps prevent over-attachment problems to owners. Continuing to offer your puppy a wide variety of experiences during their first year of life is also helpful in preventing separation-related behavior.