Jul 11, 2017 Here are some early encounters that you and your puppy should try to check off the list. The link at the bottom of the graphic will let you download this image to print and keep on hand so you can keep track! Download this checklist to keep tabs on your socialization journey! DOWNLOAD NOW. Socialization is the process of introducing your puppy to the world in a way that will help him be confident and unafraid of people, places and things that he will encounter throughout his life. The most critical socialization window occurs before the age of 12 weeks, and that window is considered to be closing by 5 months.
Learn how and when to socialize your puppy so she grows into a friendly, confident dog.
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July 29, 2014
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Hide player “My dog’s always been pretty shy,” the client reports. “But just recently, she’s begun to growl at people who try to pet her. Then yesterday she lunged and snapped at some random guy on the street.” More often than not, this dog turns out to be an adolescent or young adult whose early socialization was nowheresville. The revenue stream from undersocialized dogs is one that I would really, really like to lose. This week’s article is on socialization--the dead easy, dirt cheap, and essential route to a behaviorally healthy dog.
What Is Puppy Socialization?
Here’s the deal with socialization. During what’s called the “sensitive period” of very early life, puppies learn about what’s normal in the world. They’re not immune to fear or even trauma, but in general they accept whatever they have a pleasant encounter with. It’s almost as if they develop a catalog of sights, sounds, smells, and experiences that fall under the heading of “safe.” As a special bonus, if the range of pleasant early experiences is wide and varied, the puppy also seems to learn that “new” does not necessarily mean “scary.”
For example, when I adopted my dog Juniper as a nine-week-old puppy, I socialized him carefully. But I lived in a walk-up apartment at the time, and one thing I forgot to introduce him to was elevators. I never gave them a thought till the first time Juni and I stayed in a hotel. He had a moment of surprise when the room started to move. Then his broad experience of the world kicked in to reassure him that this novel situation was okay. So was that huge metal cart with all our luggage on it.
When Should You Socialize Your Puppy?
I urge you to play it safe--socialize diligently from the minute you get your puppy home.
The catch about socialization is that it’s a window of opportunity and when it shuts, it slams shut. Different experts will give you different closing dates, ranging from 12 to 16 weeks old. Individual puppies will vary, too. I urge you to play it safe--socialize diligently from the minute you get your puppy home. Without good socialization, your puppy will likely be shy and skittish as he grows up. And with experience, he may learn that going on the offensive can drive away the things that frighten him. Enter those many clients with their lunging, snapping young dogs.
Undersocialized Dogs Are Often Fearful, Aggressive, and Inflexible
Badly socialized dogs seem brittle rather than flexible--they respond to change and novelty with fear, taking nothing in stride. They may do well in a familiar context, then fall apart when their family moves to a new home. I have worked with dogs who could not go outdoors in the daytime, when the streets were busy with people and noise. Other dogs can stand to walk outside, but only just--they slink with their tails down and they pull frantically toward home. Some bark and lunge at everything. There are no guarantees in life, so I can’t promise you that high-quality early socialization will prevent a hundred percent of behavior problems a hundred percent of the time. But the odds of trouble do go way, way down.
Minimize Health Risks While Socializing Your Puppy
An aside here about physical health. Some veterinarians, understandably concerned about the risks of infectious disease, advise adopters to keep their pups indoors till all vaccinations are complete. If that’s your vet, direct him or her to the position statement on this issue by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. The statement points out that behavior problems are the number one cause of death for dogs under three years old and that “the risk of infection [is] relatively small compared to the chance of death from a behavior problem.” Puppies are somewhat protected by antibodies they got from their mothers and by their first set of vaccinations. Besides, good socialization doesn’t require you to plop your pup on the ground and expose her to every dog and garbage pile on the street.
How to Socialize Your Puppy
Here’s what to do. Take your puppy places--by car, in your arms, or in a child’s wagon if she’s too heavy to carry. Take her to a mall, to a hardware store, to the bus station, to a train station, on a train if possible. Take her to a gas station, auto body shop, florist. Step into the vet’s waiting room and out again. Visit a park, farm, construction site, police station. Encourage her to scramble among rocks and logs. Let her experience many surfaces underfoot, from grass to concrete to leaves to metal gratings. Teach her to use stairs, starting from the lowest step and working your way up till she can navigate a whole staircase comfortably, up and down.
Introduce Your Puppy to Many Kinds of People
Introduce your puppy to all the kinds of people in the world. Our country is still racially and culturally segregated. Many a client has confessed to me with embarrassment that his or her dog reacts strongly to people of races other than the client’s own. So make a special point of being multicultural. Carry some high-quality dry dog food. Encourage polite children to stroke your puppy and feed him a treat. People who use wheelchairs and walkers, delivery truck drivers, bearded men with deep voices, nuns, homeless people collecting bottles from the street--none of these ordinary folks should be extraordinary to your dog.
Familiarize Your Puppy with Other Animals
The same goes for animals. A puppy who grows up knowing cats is less likely to treat them as prey when he grows up. If you live in the country, exposure to other domestic species may come easily; if you live in the city, work with what you’ve got—police horses can be viewed from a distance and paired with treats if your puppy is skittish about them. As for other dogs, screen them! Your puppy should meet dogs and puppies who you know for a fact are friendly and healthy. A well-run puppy manners class or play group will help. Avoid even well-managed dog parks until vaccinations are complete.
Get Your Puppy Used to All Kinds of Sounds
Many dogs are afraid of unfamiliar sounds. Make sure your pup hears police sirens, fire trucks, the repetitive beep a truck makes when it’s backing up. Birdsong, music, rolling steel gates, obnoxious ringtones. Banging pots and pans, doorbells, intercoms. Gunfire and similar sharp, cracking sounds are often culprits in dog phobias; download free recordings from the Internet and play them as background music one day.
What to Do if Your Puppy Is Shy
Say you’re introducing your puppy to a friend with dark glasses and a headdress, and your puppy shies away. Take a deep breath, relax, and let your puppy retreat. Ask your friend to sit down and ignore the puppy. Let your pup approach at his own pace, while your friend pays him no mind. Praise your puppy softly and warmly when he explores. Avoid luring him forward with food--it’s important that he stay within his comfort zone. If he relaxes completely near your friend, she can offer him a treat; if that goes well, a scritch comes next. If your puppy remains a bit skittish, don’t push—just repeat the meeting later or another day.
Follow the same pattern for anything or anyone your puppy doesn’t take in stride: let him retreat to a distance where he feels safe, then venture forward in his own good time. Praise his bravery but do not lure.
If you find that your puppy is easily spooked in many circumstances or by many kinds of people, speak with a behavior specialist right away. Early behavior is often highly malleable and the quicker you intervene in any potential problems, the higher your odds of fixing them.
I’ve posted my puppy socialization checklist as a Note on my Facebook page. Send your questions and comments to dogtrainer@ quickanddirtytips.com, and I may use them in a future article. Thanks for reading!
Resources
FindSounds.com is only one source for free sound files. Obviously, exercise caution in choosing sites to download from! You can also obtain sound effects CDs from the usual online retailers. The “Sounds Good” series of CDs, specially tailored to socializing puppies and to counterconditioning fears, is available at Dogwise.
Dee Ganley, CPDT-KA, “Puppy/Dog Socialization,” is among many good guides available online.
Dee Ganley, CPDT-KA, “Puppy/Dog Socialization,” is among many good guides available online.
“Early Puppy Socialization Classes: Risks vs. Benefits” (a roundtable discussion in Veterinary Medicine, Dec. 1, 2009)
Puppy in Wagon image from Shutterstock
HomeDog CarePuppy Socialization Checklist for New and Experienced Owners
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An important part of raising any well-adjusted dog is ongoing socialization training. Without adequate socialization, your dog may grow up to be a fearful or even aggressive dog who is unhappy in their own skin. So, how do you socialize your puppy? We’re glad you asked! We've come up with a puppy socialization checklist to help you with this task.
Socialization is simply the process of exposing your puppy to various situations and stimulus to increase their familiarity with them. For example, taking your dog for a walk around the park exposes them to strangers, children, other dogs, as well as wildlife and sound.
Socialization exposes your puppy to different situations and different stimulus to familiarize them with the diversity of the world around them. A well-socialized puppy can adjust to any foreign situation or stimulus, because they have already been exposed to many different things.
An unsocialized puppy commonly exhibits fear, aggression or shock when confronted with unfamiliar stimuli because they have no concept of diversity. This makes it difficult to have guests in your home or take your puppy with you anywhere.
Socializing your new pet isn't impossible, but it will take time and patience. Follow this puppy socialization checklist and you're sure to have a well-socialized pooch in no time.
RELATED: 8 Scientific Reasons To Socialize Your Dog
Puppy Socialization Checklist
How Do You Socialize a Puppy?
Socialization is about exposure to sights, sounds, and smells to desensitize your dog to the unfamiliar. This should begin with letting your dog see and experience new stimulus.
On the first introduction, it’s important not to overstimulate your puppy. That means a short time of exposure without forced interaction. If your puppy is interested in exploring the situation, let them.
After a few sessions of exposure, work with your puppy to increase their interaction. If they were previously reluctant to explore the situation, encourage exploration. You can do this with treats, by taking part in exploration or tying familiar items to the environment.
Once your puppy is comfortable with minimal interaction, the next step on the puppy socialization checklist is to begin increasing the level of interaction. Invite more in-depth exploration. Ask if people would like to approach your puppy, but remind them that your puppy is shy and new to this situation.
When your pup is more comfortable with minimal interactions in a new environment with new people, invite more involved interaction. Allow strangers to pet your puppy, talk to him and play with him.
ALSO READ: How to Socialize A Dog With Humans – A Beginner’s Guide
When to Begin Socializing Your Puppy
Socialization for a puppy should begin shortly after birth. Young puppies socialize with their siblings and learn how to interact from their mother. As the puppy ages, they are handled by a breeder or rescue worker to expose them to the human touch.
Many breeders and rescues also work with young puppies after their vaccinations to expose them to other animals or situations. This is done to create a more well-rounded dog.
What You Need to Know About Socialization
When socializing your puppy (or any dog) always monitor his body language. If your dog shows any signs of being uncomfortable remove them from the situation immediately.
Signs that your dog is uncomfortable with a situation and should not be pressed include:
- crouching
- hiding
- urinating
- growling
- whining
- retreating
- baring teeth
- raised hair on the scruff of the neck or back
- tail tucked between the legs
While it’s important to get your puppy used to new places and people, never push them. Forcing your dog into a fearful situation can cause biting, snapping, a lack of trust in you, and worsening of existing fear.
When to Seek Professional Advice
If your puppy shows significant signs of fear or aggression in response to socialization attempts, call a professional. Not only could someone get hurt, but you could also worsen your dog’s fear. You can find a reputable behavioral therapist by consulting your veterinarian.
The Different Types of Socialization
If your puppy shows no signs of aggression or fear, you can begin the socialization process yourself. There are a handful of situations that every dog should be made familiar with. These include exposure to other dogs, exposure to children, exposure to strangers, and exposure to new and various situations like parks and dog-friendly stores.
5 Tips on How to Socialize Your Puppy
Here are five ideas on how to socialize your puppy with other dogs and people.
1. Puppy Classes
Puppy classes should be the first step on your puppy socialization checklist. But, you can't sign Fido up until he's received all of his vaccinations. This type of class serves many purposes, including:
- your puppy is exposed to other dogs;
- your puppy is introduced to strangers;
- classes are also an opportunity for your puppy to experience groups of people;
- you will bond with your puppy;
- and classes provide your puppy with rules that help him to interact with the world around him.
How do you choose a puppy class? The best way to find a reputable class is to do your research online. You will be able to find plenty of reviews from class members past and present as well as any criticisms.
You will rarely find 100% positive feedback, but you can avoid more disreputable programs this way. Another way to find reputable classes is to ask your veterinarian for recommendations.
2. Doggy Daycare
Once your puppy has a grasp on basic commands and has had their vaccinations, consider enrolling them in doggy daycare. Many recreational doggy day care services exist, but plenty of veterinarians off daycare too.
A doggy daycare is exactly what it sounds like and it offers your dog the opportunity to socialize with dogs of all ages and sizes. This type of socialization is important because it prepares your puppy to meet dogs of various sizes avoiding small-dog-phobia or big-dog-phobia.
3. Dog-Friendly Stores
Dog-friendly stores are extremely beneficial in socializing your puppy because they introduce unique walking surfaces, more strangers, more new dogs, new sounds, new colors and sights, and unique smells!
There are many dog-friendly stores out there if you’re looking for a list, here are 65 to get you started. If your puppy is not up to date on vaccinations OR if there is a local epidemic (like canine flu) you should always keep your dog at home!
No matter how you introduce your dog to children, ALWAYS supervise interactions to keep your dog and the child safe.
4. Children
Exposing your dog to children while they are young is crucial, failure to do so can result in a dog that is fearful of children. The best way to introduce your dog to children is while they are still quite young.
Supervised visits with family member’s children are a good place to begin. If you do not have children in your family or neighborhood, you can expose your dog to children by taking short visits to the park.
5. Strangers
Your dog should be familiar with the idea of strangers. You can socialize your dog with strangers by visiting dog-friendly stores, parks, and by simply walking around the neighborhood.
The aim of introducing your dog to strangers is to desensitize them to various types of people. This will decrease the likelihood that your dog will become reactive to unfamiliar types of people in the future.
RELATED VIDEO GUIDE: How To Train A Dog To Behave Around Kids
The Importance of Situational Exposure
It is just as important to expose your dog to different situations and environments as it is to expose them to different people and dogs. Dogs that experience little change in scenery or are familiar with only a single environment are easily scared, skittish, and may even become fearfully aggressive.
You can avoid this type of fear by introducing your puppy to as many different environments as possible. This step on the puppy socialization checklist should ONLY be done after your dog has received all of their vaccinations, shows no aggression and when your dog is healthy.
Some of the most common places to take your dog to increase his awareness of the world include the park, the dog park, dog-friendly stores, the neighborhood, outdoor patios of dog-friendly resorts, drive-thru’s, hiking trails and, of course, the vet’s office.
A Moment Now Saves a Lifetime of Trouble
Socialization is crucial for any puppy, because it creates exposure to the world. A puppy that receives well-rounded exposure will grow into a dog that has a solid blueprint of the world around them.
A dog without socialization, however, will always be fearful and doubting of their surroundings. It is up to you to follow this puppy socialization checklist in order to provide your dog with the blueprint he will need as an adult.
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